Pullulanase, microorganisms which produce it, processes for the preparation of this pullulanese and the uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a heat-stable pullulanase having the property of hydrolysing glucosidic bonds of the α-1,6 type in amylopectin and having an enzymatic activity in an acid medium and at a temperature of about 60° C. 
     The invention also relates to strains of microorganisms which produce this pullulanase and processes for the preparation of this pullulanase. 
     The invention also relates to the uses thereof and compositions comprising the product. 
     The invention also relates to a DNA molecule. The invention relates to an expression vector containing this DNA molecule and to a chromosomal integration vector containing this DNA molecule.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/472,293 filed Jun. 7, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,174, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/174,893 filed Dec. 28, 1993 now abandoned.

The invention relates to a new pullulanase. The invention also relates to a new strain of microorganisms which produce this pullulanase and the processes for the preparation of this pullulanase. The invention also relates to uses thereof and compositions comprising this product. The invention also relates to a DNA molecule containing the gene of this pullulanase and to an expression vector containing this DNA molecule, which can be used to express pullulanase in Bacillus strains.

Starch, the essential constituents of which are amylose and amylopectin, can be converted into simple sugars by an enzymatic process carried out in two stages one stage of liquefaction of the starch and one stage of saccharification of the liquefied starch. In order to obtain a high conversion level of the starch, it has already been proposed to add an enzyme which hydrolyses α-1,6-glucosidic bonds, such as, for example, a pullulanase, during the saccharification of the liquefied starch.

European Patent 0 063 909 describes a so-called debranching enzyme, that is to say an enzyme which is capable of hydrolysing the α-1,6-glucosidic bonds in amylopectini which has a pullulanase activity and has an optimum activity at a pH of 4-5 at 60° C. This enzyme is derived from a strain of Bacillus acidopullulyticus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,403 furthermore has proposed a pullulanase which has an enzymatic activity in an acid medium and is derived from a strain of Bacillus naganoensis. This enzyme has a maximum activity at a pH of about 5, measured at 60° C., and a maximum activity at a temperature of about 62.5° C., measured at a pH of 4.5.

Although active at acid pH and at a temperature of about 60° C. and therefore suitable for use in the saccharification of liquefied starch, the pullulanases of the prior art have the disadvantage of having a very low stability under such temperature and pH conditions, their half-life at a temperature of 60° C. and at a pH of about 4.5 in the absence of substrate not exceeding a few tens of minutes.

There is consequently currently a demand for a pullulanase which can be used in the saccharification of liquefied starch and is very stable within a wide temperature and pH range, in particular at a temperature of about 60° C. and at a pH of about 4.5.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new pullulanase which is active at an acid pH, has a heat stability at an acid pH which is very greatly superior to that of the pullulanases of the prior art and has a half-life of several hours under the abovementioned conditions.

The object of the present invention is also to identify, isolate and provide a strain, and particularly a Bacillus strain, which naturally produces the said pullulanase.

The object of the present invention is also to isolate and provide a nucleotide sequence which codes for the said pullulanase.

The object of the present invention is also to prepare and provide an expression vector and a chromosomal integration vector containing the nucleotide sequence which codes for the said pullulanase.

The object of the present invention is also to prepare and provide a Bacillus host transformed with the expression vector or the integration vector containing the nucleotide sequence of the strain of Bacillus which codes for the said pullulanase.

To this effect, the invention relates to a pullulanase produced by a Bacillus, and more particularly by an aerobic and non-thermophilic microorganism, such as Bacillus deramificans. Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D or a derivative or mutant of this strain of Bacillus deramificans are preferably employed.

The isolated and purified pullulanase is preferably made up of a single type of polypeptide having a molecular weight of about 100 (±10) kDa.

Moreover, the N-terminal sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) of the said pullulanase is as follows, in the amino-carboxyl sense and from left to right:

    Asp Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr Ile Ile Val His                                           1               5                  10                                        Tyr Phe Cys Pro Ala Gly Asp Tyr Gln Pro                                                         15                  20                                  

The invention relates to an isolated and purified pullulanase comprising the amino acid sequence of 1 to 928 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:11) or a modified sequence derived therefrom. This sequence is the complete amino acid sequence of the said pullulanase, as illustrated in FIG. 4 (4a to 4f).

The complete nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) which codes for pullulanase and its translation into amino acids is given in FIG. 4.

Particularly preferably, the said pullulanase has an isoelectric point of between 4.1 and 4.5.

The pullulanase according to the invention is heat stable and active in a wide temperature range. The pullulanase is active at an acid pH.

The said pullulanase is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of α-1,6-glucosidic bonds present both in amylopectin and in pullulane. It is therefore a so-called deramifying or debranching enzyme. The said pullulanase is preferably capable of hydrolysing glucosidic bonds of the α-1,6 type in amylopectin.

The pullulanase according to the invention preferably breaks down pullulane into maltotriose and amylopectin into amylose.

Moreover, the pullulanase of the present invention hydrolyses amylopectin to form oligosaccharides (maltooligosaccharides). During this hydrolysis, the formation of oligosaccharides made up of about 13 glucose units Idegree of polymerization of 13, this molecule is also called "chain A") is observed, followed by the formation of oligosaccharides made up of about 47 glucose units (degree of polymerization of 47, this molecule is also called "chain B").

The oligosaccharides with chains A and B are defined with reference to D. J. MANNERS ("Structural Analysis of Starch components by Debranching Enzymes" in "New Approaches to research on Cereal Carbohydrates", Amsterdam, 1985, pages 45-54) and B. E. ENEVOLDSEN ("Aspects of the fine structure of starch" in "New Approaches to research on Cereal Carbohydrates", Amsterdam, 1985, pages 55-60).

The pullulanase of the present invention preferably hydrolyses potato amylopectin. This hydrolysis can be carried out with an aqueous suspension of amylopectin in the presence of the pullulanase under the conditions of optimum activity of the pullulanase, that is to say at a temperature of about 60° C. and at a pH of about 4.3.

The pullulanase of the present invention catalyses the condensation reaction of maltose to form tetraholosides (oligosaccharides having 4 glucose units).

The pullulanase of the invention has a half-life of about 55 hours, measured at a temperature of about 60° C. in a solution buffered at a pH of about 4.5 and in the absence of substrate.

Half-life means that the pullulanase shows a relative enzymatic activity of at least 50%, measured after an incubation of 55 hours at a temperature of about 60° C. in a solution buffered at a pH of about 4.5 and in the absence of substrate.

The pullulanase according to the invention is heat stable at an acid pH. In fact, the pullulanase according to the invention shows a relative enzymatic activity of at least 55%, measured after an incubation of 40 hours at a temperature of 60° C. in a solution buffered at a pH of about 4.5 and in the absence of substrate. It shows a relative enzymatic activity of at least 70%, measured after an incubation of 24 hours under these same conditions.

Relative enzymatic activity means the ratio between the enzymatic activity measured in the course of a test carried out under the given pH, temperature, substrate and duration conditions, and the maximum enzymatic activity measured in the course of this same test, the enzymatic activity being measured starting from the hydrolysis of pullulane and the maximum enzymatic activity being fixed arbitrarily at the value of 100.

The pullulanase according to the invention is furthermore stable in a wide range of acid pH values.

Under the conditions described below, it is active at a pH greater than or equal to 3. In fact, the said pullulanase shows a relative enzymatic activity of at least 85%, measured after an incubation of 60 minutes at a temperature of about 60° C. in the absence of substrate and in a pH range greater than or equal to about 3.5.

Under the conditions described below, it is active at a pH of less than or equal to 7. In fact, the said pullulanase shows a relative enzymatic activity of at least 85%, measured after an incubation of 60 minutes at a temperature of about 60° C. in the absence of substrate and in a pH range less than or equal to about 5.8.

It preferably shows a relative enzymatic activity of greater than 90%, measured in a pH range of between about 3.8 and about 5 under these same conditions.

The pullulanase according to the invention develops an optimum enzymatic activity, measured at a temperature of about 60° C., in a pH range greater than 4.0. The pullulanase according to the invention develops an optimum enzymatic activity, measured at a temperature of about 60° C., in a pH range less than 4.8. The said pullulanase preferably develops an optimum enzymatic activity, measured at a temperature of about 60° C., at a pH of about 4.3.

The pullulanase according to the invention furthermore develops an optimum enzymatic activity, measured at a pH of about 4.3, in a temperature range of between 55 and 65° C., and more particularly at 60° C.

The pullulanase according to the invention develops an enzymatic activity of more than 80% of the maximum enzymatic activity (the maximum enzymatic activity being measured at a temperature of 60° C. and at a pH of 4.3) in a pH range between about 3.8 and about 4.9 at a temperature of about 60° C.

The pullulanase according to the invention furthermore has all the appropriate properties compatible with actual industrial conditions of saccharification of starch. These properties are an optimum pH of less than 5, an optimum temperature at about 60° C. and a good stability of the enzyme under these conditions of acid pH and elevated temperature. The acid medium is imposed by the simultaneous use of glucoamylase and pullulanase in the industrial saccharification of starch. In fact, the glucoamylase used for saccharification of starch is generally produced by a fungus and in particular by an Aspergillus strain, such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori or Aspergillus foetidus. The ideal conditions which are suitable for saccharification of liquefied starch in the presence of a glucoamylase are a temperature of about 60° C. and a pH of about 4.0 to 4.5. This is the case, in particular, for the glucoamylase sold under the trade names DIAZYME® L-200 by SOLVAY ENZYMES (Elkhart, United States) and OPTIDEX® by SOLVAY ENZYMES (Hanover, Germany). Furthermore, the saccharification stage lasts several hours, in general 40 to 60 hours, and it is essential that the enzymes used are stable, active and effective throughout this stage, and these enzymes should therefore have a high heat stability in an acid medium and the longest possible half-life. For this reason, the pullulanase of the present invention is more effective than the known pullulanases.

The present invention also relates to a process for the production of a pullulanase which comprises culture of an aerobic (and non-thermophilic) bacterium which is capable of producing pullulanase in a suitable nutrient medium containing sources of carbon and nitrogen and mineral salts under aerobiotic conditions, and harvesting of the pullulanase thus obtained. This culture medium may be solid or liquid. The culture medium is preferably liquid.

The present invention also relates to a process for the production of a pullulanase which comprises culture of the strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D (LMG P-13056) or a derivative of this strain which is capable of producing pullulanase in a suitable nutrient medium containing sources of carbon and nitrogen and mineral salts under aerobiotic conditions, and harvesting of the pullulanase thus obtained.

The culture conditions for these bacteria, such as the components of the culture medium, culture parameters, temperature, pH, aeration and stirring, are well-known to the expert.

The sources of carbon in the culture medium are usually chosen from starch, partially hydrolysed starch, soluble starch, oligosaccharides, glucose, amylose, amylopectin or a mixture of two or more of these. The sources of carbon in the culture medium are preferably chosen from partially hydrolysed starch, pullulane, glucose or a mixture of these. Good results have been obtained with glucose and partially hydrolysed starch. The sources of nitrogen in the culture medium are usually chosen from yeast extract, soya flour, cottonseed flour, fish meal, gelatin, potato flour or a mixture of two or more of these. The sources of nitrogen in the culture medium are preferably chosen from yeast extract, soya flour or a mixture of these. Good results have been obtained with yeast extract. The mineral salts in the culture medium are generally chosen, with respect to the anions, from chloride, carbonate, phosphate and sulphate, and, with respect to the cations, from potassium, sodium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium or a mixture of two or more of these. Good results have been obtained with a mixture of the following salts: KH₂ PO₄, K₂ HPO₄.3H₂ O, (NH₄)₂ SO₄, MgCl₂.6H₂ O and CaCl₂.2H₂ O.

Culture is generally carried out at a temperature of between 20 and 45° C., preferably between 25 and 40° C.

Culture is generally carried out at a pH of between 3.5 and 6, preferably between 4 and 6.

Culture is carried out under aerobiotic conditions in the presence of air or oxygen and while stirring.

The techniques for harvesting the pullulanase produced are well known to the expert. Centrifugation, ultrafiltration, evaporation, precipitation, filtration, microfiltration, crystallization or a combination of one or other of these techniques, such as centrifugation followed by ultrafiltration, is usually employed.

The pullulanase can then be purified, if necessary. The techniques for purification of enzymes are known to the expert, such as, in particular, precipitation with the aid of a salt such as ammonium sulphate, or a solvent such as, chiefly, acetone.

The pullulanase can also be dried by spraying or lyophilization.

The present invention also relates to identification and provision of a new isolated aerobic bacterium which produces pullulanase. Generally, this belongs to the family of Bacillaceae. It preferably belongs to the Bacillus genus. The said Bacillus is particularly preferably the strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D or a derivative or mutant of this strain.

Derivative or mutant of this strain means any naturally or artificially modified bacterium. The derivatives of this strain can be obtained by known modification techniques, such as ultra-violet radiation, X-rays, mutagenic agents or genetic engineering.

The strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D has been deposited in the collection called BELGIAN COORDINATED COLLECTIONS OF MICROORGANISMS (LMG culture collection, University of Ghent, Laboratory of Microbiology--K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 GHENT, Belgium) in accordance with the Treaty of Budapest under number LMG P-13056 on Jun. 21, 1993. The invention thus relates to an isolated and purified culture of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D and a derived or mutated culture thereof.

The strain of the present invention has been identified by its biochemical characteristics: a Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium which forms an endospore.

The invention also relates to the isolation and provision of a DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) which codes for the pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D (LMG P-13056) or a modified sequence derived therefrom. This DNA molecule preferably comprises the entire gene of the pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. The entire gene of the pullulanase means at least the transcription promoter(s), the signal sequence(s), the nucleotide sequence which codes for the mature pullulanase and the transcription terminator(s).

The DNA molecule according to the invention comprises at least the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) which codes for the mature pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D (LMG P-13056) and its signal sequence (presequence) (SEQ ID NO:13). This DNA molecule preferably comprises the entire gene of the pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. Good results have been obtained with a DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:8). The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) is made up of, in the amino-carboxyl sense and from left to right, the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:14) , the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:13), the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) and the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:15) The pullulanase of the invention is synthesized in the form of a precursor containing an additional sequence of 29 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:12).

The invention also relates to a modified pullulanase, that is to say an enzyme in which the amino acid sequence differs from that of the wild enzyme by at least one amino acid. These modifications can be obtained by the conventional techniques of mutagenesis on DNA, such as exposure to ultra-violet radiation, or to chemical products, such as sodium nitrite or O-methylhydroxylamine, or by genetic-engineering techniques, such as, for example, site-directed mutagenesis or random mutagenesis.

The invention also relates to a mutated pullulanase obtained by modification of the nucleotide sequence of the gene which codes for the pullulanase defined above. The techniques for obtaining such mutated pullulanases are known to the expert and are described in particular in Molecular Cloning--a laboratory manual--SAMBROOK, FRITSCH, MANIATIS--second edition, 1989, in chapter 15.

The invention also relates to the preparation and provision of an expression vector containing the DNA molecule which comprises the nucleotide sequence which codes for the pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. The DNA molecule preferably comprises the structural gene which codes for the mature pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. This vector is particularly preferably the vector pUBDEBRA1. Good results have also been obtained with the vector pUBCDEBRA11.

Expression vector means any DNA sequence which comprises a replicon and other DNA regions (nucleotide sequences) and which functions independently of the host as a complete gene expression unit.

Complete gene expression unit means the structural gene and the promoter region(s) and the regulation region(s) necessary for transcription and translation. Structural gene means the coding sequence which is used for transcription into RNA and allows synthesis of the protein by the host.

The preferred expression vector is the vector pUBDEBRA1. This vector contains the gene which codes for the pullulanase of the strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D according to the invention. This vector can be introduced into a suitable host. This host is generally a strain of Bacillus. This host is preferably a strain of Bacillus licheniformis. This host is particularly preferably a strain of Bacillus licheniformis SE2. Excellent results have been obtained with this vector when it is introduced into the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1, used as the host.

The invention also relates to the preparation and provision of a chromosomal integration vector containing the DNA molecule which comprises the nucleotide sequence which codes for the pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. The DNA molecule preferably comprises the structural gene which codes for the mature pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. This chromosomal integration vector is particularly preferably the vector pUBCDEBRA11DNSI.

The present invention also relates to recombinant strains in which the said gene which codes for pullulanase is introduced by genetic-engineering techniques. The gene can be introduced on a plasmid by an expression vector or integrated into the host chromosome in one or more copies by a chromosomal integration vector.

The invention also relates to the strains of microorganisms which are different from the starting producer organism and in which the nucleotides which code for the pullulanase are introduced by transformation, either in a form integrated in the chromosomal DNA or in autoreplicative form (plasmid).

The invention relates to the transformed strain of Bacillus licheniformis which comprises the DNA molecule described above. The invention relates to the transformed strain of Bacillus licheniformis which comprises the expression vector or the chromosomal integration vector which comprises this DNA molecule. The invention preferably relates to the transformed strain of Bacillus licheniformis which comprises the expression vector pUBDEBRA1 or the chromosomal integration vector pUBCDEBRA11DNSI.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a pullulanase starting from a recombinant organism, the process comprising isolation of a DNA fragment which codes for pullulanase, insertion of this DNA fragment into a suitable vector, introduction of this vector into a suitable host or introduction of this DNA fragment into the chromosome of a suitable host, culture of this host, expression of the pullulanase and harvesting of the pullulanase. The suitable host is generally chosen from the group comprising Escherichia coli, Bacillus or Aspergillus microorganisms. The host is usually chosen from the Bacilli. The host is preferably chosen from (aerobic) microorganisms of the genus Bacillus. The host is particularly preferably chosen from the microorganisms Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus alcalophilus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D (LMG P-13056).

Good results have been obtained when the host for expression of the pullulanase according to the present invention is a recombinant strain derived from Bacillus licheniformis, and preferably the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1.

The strain of Bacillus licheniformis SE2 was deposited on Jun. 21, 1993 in the collection called BELGIAN COORDINATED COLLECTIONS OF MICROORGANISMS (LMG culture collection, Ghent, Belgium) in accordance with the Treaty of Budapest under number LMG P-14034.

The transformed strain SE2 delap1 thus obtained from Bacillus licheniformis SE2 differs from the parent strain by the sole fact that it does not contain in its chromosome the DNA sequence which codes for the mature protease.

The invention also relates to a pullulanase produced in a heterologous manner by a microoganism of the genus Bacillus which contains a gene which codes for an alkaline protease in the wild state. This microorganism is preferably a strain of Bacillus licheniformis comprising the DNA molecule which comprises the nucleotide sequence which codes for the pullulanase of Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D. The gene which codes for the alkaline protease has particularly preferably been deleted from this strain of Bacillus. This strain is preferably the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1.

Produced in a heterologous manner means production which is not effected by the natural microorganism, that is to say the microorganism which contains, in the wild state, the gene which codes for the pullulanase.

The pullulanase according to the invention has several outlets in various industries, such as, for example, the food industry, the pharmaceuticals industry or the chemical industry.

The pullulanase can in particular be used in baking as an "anti-staling" agent, that is to say as an additive to prevent bread becoming stale during storage, or in brewing during production of low-calorie beers.

The pullulanase can also be used in the preparation of low-calorie foods in which amylose is used as a substitute for fats.

The pullulanase can also be used to hydrolyse amylopectin and to form oligosaccharides starting from this amylopectin.

The pullulanase can also be used to form tetraholosides starting from maltose.

The pullulanase can also be used to condense mono- or oligo-saccharides, creating bonds of the alpha-1,6 type.

The pullulanase can be used, for example, to clarify fruit juices.

The pullulanase can be used for liquefaction of starch.

For food applications, the pullulanase can be immobilized on a support. The techniques for immobilization of enzymes are well known to the expert.

The pullulanase according to the invention is particularly suitable for treatment of starch and pullulane.

The invention relates to the use of the pullulanase for saccharification of liquefied starch.

The present invention also relates to the use of the pullulanase in a process for breaking down starch or partially hydrolysed starch comprising a stage of saccharification of the starch or the partially hydrolysed starch in the presence of a pullulanase. This process is in general carried out in the presence of one or more other enzymes, such as glucoamylase, α-amylase, β-amylase, α-glucosidase or other saccharifying enzymes.

Given its biochemical properties, the pullulanase according to the present invention allows the saccharification stage to be carried out under strongly acid conditions, that is to say down to a pH of at least 3.9. This pH is more acid than that which is acceptable to the known pullulanases.

Given its biochemical properties, the pullulanase according to the present invention allows the saccharification stage to be carried out at relatively high temperatures, that is to say up to at least a temperature of 65° C.

Addition of the pullulanase according to the present invention to the saccharification medium allows the content of glucose in the final composition obtained to be increased and therefore the yield of the reaction to be increased.

Moreover, addition of the pullulanase of the present invention to the saccharification medium allows the saccharification period to be reduced.

The pullulanase of the present invention allows a high starch conversion level to be achieved.

Furthermore, during the saccharification stage, it is possible for a large proportion (at least 60%) of the glucoamylase usually used to be replaced by the pullulanase of the present invention without affecting the yield of glucose. This replacement is particularly advantageous, and in fact it allows the amount of by-products usually obtained to be reduced considerably. Since the glucoamylase is present in a small proportion, it is unable to catalyse the synthesis reaction of oligosaccharides (containing α-1,6 bonds) starting from glucose; under the normal conditions, glucoamylase catalyses this inverse reaction of oligosaccharide synthesis when high concentrations of dextrose are reached in the saccharification medium, which limits the starch conversion level.

Furthermore, the pullulanase of the present invention allows a concentrated saccharification medium, that is to say a medium having a high content of liquefied starch, to be used. This is advantageous from the economic point of view, and in fact allows the evaporation costs to be reduced.

The present invention also relates to enzymatic compositions comprising the pullulanase according to the invention.

The compositions comprising the pullulanase of the present invention can be used in the solid or liquid form.

The pullulanase is formulated according to the intended uses. Stabilizers or preservatives can also be added to the enzymatic compositions comprising the pullulanase according to the invention. For example, the pullulanase can be stabilized by addition of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, starch, pullulane, a sugar, such as glucose and sorbitol, a salt, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, or a mixture of two or more of these products. Good results have been obtained with propylene glycol. Good results have been obtained with a mixture of starch, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.

The enzymatic compositions according to the invention can also comprise, in addition to the pullulanase, one or more other enzymes. Such enzymes are, in particular, carbohydrate hydrolases, such as, for example, glucoamylase, α-amylase, β-amylase, α-glucosidase, isoamylase, cyclomaltodextrin glucotransferase, β-glucanase and glucose isomerase, saccharifying enzymes, enzymes which cleave glucosidic bonds or a mixture of two or more of these.

The present invention preferably relates to an enzymatic composition comprising a glucoamylase and a pullulanase.

FIG. 1 shows the restriction map of the plasmid pUBDEBRA1.

FIG. 2 shows the restriction map of the plasmid pLD1.

FIG. 3 shows the restriction map of the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11DNSI.

The meaning of the symbols and abbreviations used in these figures is summarized in the following table.

    ______________________________________                                         Symbol                                                                                       Abbreviation Meaning                                             ______________________________________                                         ORIEC        Replication origin in E. coli                                       REP Protein required for replication                                           ORI+  Replication origin of the + strand                                       ORI- Replication origin of the - strand                                        KMR Gene carrying resistance to kanamycin                                      BLMR Gene carrying resistance to bleomycin                                     AMPR Gene carrying resistance to amplicillin                                   PP Pre/pro sequence                                                            BLIAPR Sequence which codes for the alkaline                                    protease of B. licheniformis                                                  5'BLIAPR 5' sequence situated before the sequence                               which codes for the alkaline protease of                                       B. licheniformis                                                              3'BLIAPR 3' sequence situated after the sequence                                which codes for the alkaline protease of                                       B. licheniformis                                                              BDEPUL Sequence which codes for the pullulanase                                 of B. deramificans                                                          ______________________________________                                    

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Isolation and Characterization of the Strain of Bacillus Deramificans

The strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D was isolated from soil on an agar-agar nutrient medium and selected for its ability to break down a coloured derivative of pullulane known by the name AZCL-pullulane and sold by the company MEGAZYME.

This strain was cultured at 37° C. in MYE growth medium, the composition of which is as follows KH₂ PO₄ 33 mM; K₂ HPO₄.2H₂ O 6 mM; (NH₄)₂ SO₄ 45 mM; MgCl₂.6H₂ O 1 mM; CaCl₂.2H₂ O 1 mM; yeast extract 0.5% (weight/volume); glucose 0.5% (weight/volume). The pH of the medium is adjusted to pH 4.5 with H₃ PO₄.

The agar-agar medium (MYE/agar) additionally comprises 2% (weight/volume) of agar.

The strain of the present invention was identified by its biochemical characteristics: Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium which forms an endospore. It thus belongs to the Bacillus genus.

The vegetative cells of this strain in a culture on MYE medium at 37° C. have the form of a bacillus of size 0.7×3.0-3.5 μm. The motility of the vegetative cells is low.

After growth for three days at 37° C. on the MYE medium, microscopic observation reveals the presence of slightly deformed and elliptical (sub)terminal sporangia.

The catalase test is weakly positive in the presence of 10% of hydrogen peroxide. The oxidase test is positive in the presence of 1% of tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediammonium dichloride.

This strain is aerobic, that is to say it develops under aerobiosis. It does not develop under anaerobiosis, that is to say under an atmosphere of 84% (v/v) of N₂, 8% (v/v) of CO₂ and 8% (v/v) of H₂ at 37° C., but on the other hand it develops under microanaerobiosis, that is to say under an atmosphere of 82.5% (v/v) of N₂, 6% (v/v) of O₂, 7.5% (v/v) of H₂ and 4% (v/v) of CO₂ at 37° C. The abbreviation % (v/v) represents a percentage expressed as volume per volume.

This strain is not thermophilic. It shows normal development after incubation in MYE medium at 20° C., 30° C., 37° C. and 45° C., but on the other hand it does not develop at 50° C. and 55° C. It shows normal development after incubation in MYE medium buffered with phosphate buffer to the following pH values: pH 4.0, pH 4.5, pH 5.0 and pH 5.5, but on the other hand it does not develop at pH 7.0. It shows normal development after incubation in MYE medium in the presence of NaCl at concentrations of 2.0% (w/v) and 3.5% (w/v), shows weak development in the presence of 5.0% (w/v) of NaCl and does not develop in the presence of 7.0% (w/v) of NaCl. The abbreviation % (w/v) represents a percentage expressed as weight per volume.

This strain does not hydrolyse casein: in fact, no lysis zone could be observed after more than 2 weeks of incubation at 37° C. It decomposes tyrosine slightly, does not produce acetoin from pyruvate and does not reduce nitrate to nitrite or to N₂.

The strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D according to the invention is taxonomically different from the strain of Bacillus acidopullulyticus described in European Patent 0 063 909 and from the strain of Bacillus naganoensis described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,403. The strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D shows growth at a pH of between 4.7 and 5.5, shows no growth at a pH of 7.0, develops in the presence of 3.5% (w/v) of NaCl, decomposes tyrosine and does not reduce nitrate to nitrite.

The strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D has been deposited in the collection called the BELGIAN COORDINATED COLLECTIONS OF MICROORGANISMS (LMG culture collection) under number LMG P-13056.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Pullulanase

The strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D is cultured in a liquid medium (MYA), the composition of which is identical to that of the MYE medium except that the content of yeast extract and glucose is replaced by starch, that is to say:

Yeast extract 2.5% (w/v)

Potato starch 2.5% (w/v).

The culture is carried out while stirring, with effective aeration, at a temperature of 37° C.

After 68 hours of culture, the pullulanase and the cell biomass are separated by centrifugation (5000 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes, BECKMAN JA-10). The pullulanase produced by the strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D is extracellular.

The pullulanase is then concentrated by ultrafiltration (AMICON S10 Y10 membrane) to obtain a concentrated aqueous solution of pullulanase.

The enzymatic activity of the solution obtained is measured.

One enzymatic unit of pullulanase (PUN) is defined as the amount of enzyme which, at a pH of 4.5, at a temperature of 60° C. and in the presence of pullulane, catalyses the release of reducing sugars at a rate of 1 μM glucose equivalent per minute.

The pullulanase enzymatic activity is measured in accordance with the following protocol. 1 ml of a 1% strength solution of pullulane in a 50 mM acetate buffer at pH 4.5 is incubated at 60° C. for 10 minutes. 0.1 ml of a solution of pullulanase corresponding to an activity of between 0.2 and 1 PUN/ml is added thereto. The reaction is stopped after 15 minutes by addition of 0.4 ml of 0.5 M NaOH. The reducing sugars released are analysed by the method of SOMOGYI-NELSON [J. Biol. Chem., 153 (1944) pages 375-380; and J. Biol. Chem., 160 (1945), pages 61-68], and as in the other examples of this Application.

A second method is used to analyse the pullulanase. The enzymatic reaction in the presence of pullulane is carried out in accordance with the test conditions, and is then stopped by addition of sulphuric acid (0.1 N). The hydrolysis products of pullulane are then subjected to HPLC chromatography (HPX-87H column from BIO-RAD; the mobile phase is 10 mM H₂ SO₄) in order to separate the various constituents. The amount of maltotriose formed is estimated by measurement of the area of the peak obtained.

The so-called debranching activity, that is to say the hydrolysis of the α-1,6-glucosidic bonds present in amylopectin, can be quantified by the increase in the blue coloration caused, in the presence of iodine, by the release of amylose from amylopectin.

The debranching enzymatic activity is measured in accordance with the following protocol. 0.4 ml of a 1% strength amylopectin solution containing a 50 mM acetate buffer at pH 4.5 is incubated at 60° C. for 10 minutes. The reaction is initiated by addition of 0.2 ml of pullulanase, and is stopped after 30 minutes by addition of 0.4 ml of 0.3 M HCl. 0.8 ml of a 0.0025% (v/v) strength solution of iodine is then added to 0.2 ml of this reaction mixture and the optical density is measured at 565 nm.

In order to purify the pullulanase, the aqueous concentrated solution of pullulanase is diafiltered by 6 portions of 500 ml of an aqueous solution of 9 g/l of NaCl, and the pH of the aqueous solution thus obtained is adjusted to pH 3.5 by addition of 25% (v/v) strength HCl at room temperature. The diafiltration comprises mixing the pullulanase solution with the NaCl solution and then subjecting the solution obtained to ultrafiltration.

The precipitate obtained is removed by centrifugation (5000 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes, BECKMAN JA-10), and the supernatant from the centrifugation is collected. The pH of this supernatant is adjusted to pH 6.0 by addition of 5 M NaOH. The precipitate obtained is removed by centrifugation.

The supernatant from the centrifugation is collected and is heated at 55° C. for 15 minutes.

The precipitate formed is removed again by centrifugation (5000 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes, BECKMAN JA-10). The supernatant from the centrifugation is collected.

Acetone is added to this supernatant to a final concentration of 60% (v/v), and the suspension formed is brought to 4° C. over a period of 2 hours. The precipitate formed at 4° C. is dissolved in a buffer of 20 mM MES (2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid) and 1 mM CaCl₂ (pH 6.0). This pullulanase solution is called solution A.

This solution A is concentrated again by ion exchange chromatography in order to purify it. A column of about 20 ml internal volume, sold under the trade name S-SEPHAROSE® HP HI LOAD 16/10, is first equilibrated with a buffer of 50 mM CH₃ COONa and 100 mM NaCl (pH 4.0) at a flow rate of 5 ml/minute. Solution A is diluted 10 times in the acetate buffer and 15 ml of this dilute solution are deposited on the column. An isocratic phase is ensured by elution of 80 ml of acetate buffer (100 mM NaCl), followed by elution by 200 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH=4.0) containing a linear gradient of NaCl (100-500 mM).

The pullulanase activity is measured in each fraction.

The most active fractions are combined into a solution called B (12 ml containing 0.025 mg/ml of proteins and having a pullulanase activity of 0.7 PUN/ml).

Starting from this solution B, precipitation is effected with acetone at a final concentration of 80% (v/v). The precipitate obtained is dissolved in a volume of 0.6 ml of buffer comprising 20 mM MES and 1 mM CaCl₂ (pH 6.0).

This pullulanase solution is called solution C.

Solution C has a protein content of 0.4 mg/ml, an enzymatic activity of 12 PUN/ml and a specific activity of 30 PUN/mg.

The results are summarized in Table 1.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                           Pullulanase                                                                               Specific                                        Volume Proteins activity activity                                            Fractions                                                                            ml   mg/ml                                                                              Total                                                                             %   PUN/ml                                                                             Total                                                                              %  PUN/mg                                        __________________________________________________________________________     Solution A                                                                           1.5  6.48                                                                               9.7                                                                               100 17.5                                                                               26.3                                                                               100                                                                               2.7                                             Solution B 12 0.025 0.3 3 0.7 8.4 32 28                                      __________________________________________________________________________

Table 1 shows that this purification stage has increased the specific pullulanase activity of the enzymatic solution by a factor of 10.

The debranching activity, that is to say the hydrolysis activity with regard to alpha-1,6 bonds in amylopectin, of the pullulanase was also measured as described above by coloration with iodine after hydrolysis of amylopectin. The results show that the debranching activity has also been increased.

EXAMPLE 3 Molecular Weight Determination

Precipitation by means of trichloroacetic acid (10% (v/v) final strength) is carried out on solution C as obtained in Example 2. The precipitate obtained is taken up in a buffer composed of 10 mM TRIS/HCl (pH=8.0), 1 mM EDTA, 2.5% (w/v) of SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate), 5% (v/v) of β-mercaptoethanol and 0.01% (w/v) of bromophenol blue.

4 μl of the precipitate taken up in the buffer are deposited on a polyacrylamide gel. The gel system used is the PHASTSYSTEM system from PHARMACIA LKB BIOTECHNOLOGY, with gels containing a polyacrylamide gradient of 10-15% (v/v) in the presence of SDS. The electrophoresis conditions are those prescribed by the supplier. Coloration of the gel with Coomassie blue reveals a polypeptide of molecular weight of about 105 kDaltons, which is the main component of solution C.

This is confirmed by the estimation made from the amino acid sequence of the mature form of the pullulanase (without the signal sequence), as described in Example 4, and a molecular weight of 102 KDaltons is deduced by calculation.

EXAMPLE 4

1. Determination of the N-terminal Sequence

Starting from the gel described in Example 3, the N-terminal sequence of the pullulanase is identified by following the technique described by BAUW et al., (1987), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, pages 4806-4810.

This sequence (SEQ ID NO:1) thus determined is as follows in the amino-carboxyl sense and from left to right: Asp Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr Ile Ile Val His Tyr Phe Cys Pro Ala Gly Asp Tyr Gln Pro

2. Determination of the Amino Acid Sequence of the Pullulanase

The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) of the BamHI-PstI fragment of about 4.5 Kb of the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11 containing the gene which codes for the pullulanase, as obtained in Example 21, was determined by the chain termination method using dideoxy-nucleotides of SANGER et al. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, pages 5463-5467.

The synthetic oligonucleotides used to initiate the elongation reactions by the T7 DNA polymerase were synthesized by the method of BEAUCAGE et al. (1981) Tetrahedron letters 22, pages 1859-1882. The sequencing was carried out in accordance with the protocol given by the supplier of the sequence analysis kit (PHARMACIA), proceeding with denaturation of double-stranded DNA by treatment with NaOH.

The sequence analysis strategy is described by SAMBROOK, 1989, pages 13.15 and 13.17. The polyacrylamide gels for the sequence analysis were prepared in accordance with the technique described by SAMBROOK, 1989, pages 13.45-13.58.

The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) of the DNA fragment from the BamHI site to the PstI site of pUBCDEBRA11, and also the translation into amino acids (SEQ ID NO:9) of the signal and mature sequences of the pullulanase, was identified (FIG. 5). The nucleotides which have not been determined with certainty have been shown by the symbol N.

Analysis of this sequence shows the presence of an open reading frame which codes for the pullulanase. The nucleotide sequence which codes for the mature pullulanase (SEQ ID NO:10) is identified. The amino acid sequence of the mature pullulanase (SEQ ID NO:11) is thus deduced by translation of this open reading frame. FIG. 4 shows the nucleotide sequence which codes for the mature pullulanase and also its translation into amino acids.

It is verified that the N-terminal sequence determined experimentally from the protein as described above corresponds to that translated from the DNA sequence.

This shows that the pullulanase is synthesized in the form of a precursor containing an additional sequence of 29 amino acids (presequence). This sequence of 29 amino acids is identified (SEQ ID NO:12), as is the corresponding nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:13). This additional sequence shows the typical characteristics of a secretion signal sequence, which is eliminated during exportation of the enzyme to the outside of the cell (Freudl, (1992), Journal of Biotechnology, 23, pages 231-240).

This sequence of 29 amino acids is as follows:

               ATG GCT AAA AAA CTA ATT TAT GTG TGT                                              Met Ala Lys Lys Leu Ile Tyr Val Cys                                                            -25                                                 TTA AGT GTT TGT TTA GTG TTG ACC TGG GCT TTT AAT GTA                            Leu Ser Val Cys Leu Val Leu Thr Trp Ala Phe Asn Val                            -20                 -15                 -10                                    AAA GGG CAA TCT GCT CAT GCT                                                    Lys Gly Gln Ser Ala His Ala                                                             -5              -1                                             

EXAMPLE 5 Amino Acid Distribution

The amino acid distribution of the mature pullulanase, determined from the amino acid sequence of pullulanase (Example 4), is summarized in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                                        (by molecular                                     Symbol Amino acids Number weight) %                                          ______________________________________                                         D         aspartic acid                                                                               75      8.5                                               N asparagine 69 7.7                                                            V valine 72 7.0                                                                T threonine 70 6.9                                                             Y tyrosine 42 6.7                                                              L leucine 60 6.7                                                               K lysine 48 6.0                                                                S serine 64 5.5                                                                I isoleucine 47 5.2                                                            E glutamic acid 40 5.1                                                         Q glutamine 39 4.9                                                             A alanine 69 4.8                                                               P proline 46 4.4                                                               G glycine 75 4.2                                                               F phenylalanine 27 3.9                                                         W tryptophan 18 3.3                                                            M methionine 23 3.0                                                            H histidine 22 3.0                                                             R arginine 18 2.8                                                              X unknown  3 0.3                                                               C cysteine  1 0.1                                                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 6 Determination of the Isoelectric Point

IEF (isoelectrofocusing) electrophoresis is carried out on solution C, as obtained in Example 2, in a pH gradient varying from 4.0 to 6.5.

A volume corresponding to 0.12 pullulanase units is deposited in triplicate on the gel. After migration, one third of the gel is coloured with Coomassie blue.

The other two portions of the gel are covered by agar gels (1% weight/volume) buffered with 100 mM CH₃ COONa, 1 mM CaCl, and 1 mM MgCl, (pH 4.5) and containing, respectively, 0.1% (w/v) of AZCL-pullulane or 1% (w/v) of amylopectin. The combination (acrylamide gel/agar gel) thus obtained is then incubated at 60° C. in an atmosphere of saturated humidity for 16 hours. The gel covered by the top layer of amylopectin is then incubated at room temperature in a solution containing 3 mM I₂ and 50 mM KI in order to demonstrate the debranching activity by appearance of the blue coloration.

Development of the iodine of the amylopectin gel reveals a deep blue halo, indicating a debranching activity, at an isoelectric point between about 4.1 and about 4.5 for the enzyme of the present invention. Development of the pullulanase activity indicates the same result.

This demonstrates that the pullulanase of the present invention has a pullulanase activity and a debranching activity.

This demonstrates that the pullulanase of the present invention is capable of hydrolysing bonds of the α-1,6 type, both in pullulane and in amylopectin. This demonstrates a low specificity of the pullulanase of the present invention with respect to its substrate.

This is confirmed by the estimation made starting from the amino acid sequence of the mature form of the pullulanase (without the signal sequence) as described in Example 4, and an isoelectric point of 4.5 is deduced by calculation.

EXAMPLE 7 Activity Profile as a Function of pH and Temperature for the Pullulanase Produced by the Natural Strain (Bacillus Deramificans)

The enzymatic activity of the pullulanase is measured at various temperatures (55, 60 and 65° C.) and at various pH values (from 3.25 to 7) in 50 mM citrate/phosphate buffer by measuring the reducing sugars released. Solution C of pullulanase as obtained in Example 2, diluted to about 1 PUN/ml, is used.

The results are summarized in Table 3.

In the course of this test, the maximum enzymatic activity was measured by measuring the reducing sugars released for a sample placed at a pH of about 4.3 and at a temperature of about 60° C. over a period of 15 minutes. By definition, a relative enzymatic activity of 100% was thus attributed to this sample.

This example shows that the pullulanase according to the invention has an optimum enzymatic activity, measured at a temperature of about 60° C., in a pH range of between 4.0 and 4.8.

This example also shows that the pullulanase according to the invention has an optimum enzymatic activity, measured at a pH of about 4.3, in a temperature range of between 55 and 65° C.

Furthermore, this example shows that the pullulanase according to the invention develops an enzymatic activity of more than 80% of the maximum enzymatic activity in a pH range of between about 3.8 and about 4.9.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Relative activity of the enzyme %                                                      Temperature ° C.                                                         pH     55           60   65                                           ______________________________________                                         3.25    5.7            2.2    4.3                                                3.75 80.8 83.7 11.5                                                            4.30 87.9 100 84.1                                                             4.90 82.4 87.1 68                                                              5.50 50.6 39.6 13.5                                                            6.00 7.5 2.9 0                                                                 6.40 0 0 0                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8 pH Stability of the Pullulanase Produced by the Natural Strain (Bacillus Deramificans)

Solution A of the pullulanase as obtained in Example 2 is diluted such that it develops an enzymatic activity of about 0.7 PUN/ml in various 100 mM citrate/phosphate buffers at pH values varying between pH 3.0 and 7.0. The various dilute solutions containing the pullulanase are incubated at 60° C. for 60 minutes.

The enzymatic activity of these different solutions after incubation for 60 minutes at pH 4.2 at 60° C. in the presence of 1.6% (weight/volume) of pullulane is then measured. The amount of maltotriose formed is measured by HPLC chromatography (as described in Example 2). The results are summarized in Table 4.

In the course of this test, the maximum enzymatic activity was measured for a sample placed at a pH of about 4.5 and at a temperature of about 60° C. By definition, a relative enzymatic activity of 100% was thus attributed to this sample.

This example shows that the pullulanase according to the invention is stable in a wide acid pH range, and in fact it has a relative enzymatic activity of at least 85%, measured after incubation for 60 minutes at a temperature of about 60° C. in the absence of substrate and in a pH range of between about 3.5 and about 5.8. This example also shows that it has a relative enzymatic activity greater than 90%, measured in a pH range of between about 3.8 and about 5 under these same conditions, and that it is inactivated only at a pH of less than or equal to 3 or greater than or equal to 7.

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                     Relative                                                             pH activity %                                                                ______________________________________                                                 3    0                                                                   3.5 90                                                                         4 98                                                                           4.5 100                                                                        5 96                                                                           5.5 92                                                                         6 89                                                                           6.5 75                                                                         7  0                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 9 Determination of the Half-life of the Pullulanase Produced by the Natural Strain (Bacillus Deramificans)

Solution C of the pullulanase as obtained in Example 2 is diluted such that it develops an enzymatic activity of about 0.7 PUN/ml in a 100 mM sodium acetate buffer at a pH of 4.5. The dilute solution containing the pullulanase is incubated at 60° C. and samples are taken at various times.

The enzymatic activity is then measured by the reducing sugars method (method of SOMOGYI described above).

In the course of this test, the maximum enzymatic activity was measured for the sample at time 0. By definition, a relative enzymatic activity of 100% was thus attributed to this sample.

The results are summarized in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                 Time Relative                                                            hours activity %                                                             ______________________________________                                                  0   100                                                                 16 76                                                                          24 74                                                                          40 57                                                                          48 54                                                                          64 47                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

This example shows that the pullulanase is heat stable at an acid pH.

This example shows that the half-life of the pullulanase is about 55 hours under these conditions. In fact, the pullulanase has a relative enzymatic activity of at least 50%, measured after an incubation of 55 hours at a temperature of about 60° C. in a solution buffered at a pH of about 4.5 and in the absence of substrate.

This example shows moreover that the pullulanase according to the invention has a relative enzymatic activity of at least 55%, measured after an incubation of 40 hours at a temperature of about 60° C. in a solution buffered at a pH of about 4.5 and in the absence of substrate. This example also shows that it has a relative enzymatic activity of at least 70%, measured after an incubation of 24 hours under these same conditions.

EXAMPLE 10 AND EXAMPLE 11R (comparison) Saccharification

A saccharification medium is prepared by suspending, in water, maize starch at a concentration of 35% (weight/weight) by weight of starch dry matter and calcium chloride at a concentration of 0.02% (weight/volume).

This maize-starch suspension is liquefied in the presence of α-amylase, sold under the trade name TAKATHERM® L-340 by SOLVAY ENZYMES, at 105° C. for 5 minutes at pH 6.0.

The liquefied starch thus obtained is cooled rapidly to a temperature of 95° C. and the hydrolysis is continued for 120 minutes at 95° C., while stirring. At this stage, the degree of hydrolysis is between 10 and 12 DE (DE represents the unit of "dextrose equivalents", that is to say the number of reducing ends expressed as glucose equivalent).

The liquefied starch thus obtained is diluted to a final concentration of 32 g of dry weight per 100 g of saccharification medium.

The saccharification medium obtained is cooled to a temperature of 60° C.

The pH of this saccharification medium is. adjusted to various values of from 3.9 to 4.8 with acetic acid and is kept constant in the course of the saccharification.

An amount of glucoamylase corresponding to 0.176 DU/g.ds (enzymatic units of glucoamylase per g of dry matter of the saccharification medium) is added to the saccharification medium, the glucoamylase used being sold under the trade name DIAZYME L-200 by SOLVAY ENZYMES.

For Example 10 according to the invention, an amount of pullulanase corresponding to 0.075 PUN/g of dry matter is also added to the saccharification medium in the form of an aqueous concentrated solution of pullulanase (solution A) as described in Example 2.

Comparison Example 11R is carried out as described above for Example 10, but without addition of pullulanase.

After 48 hours, the saccharification is stopped and the products obtained are analysed by chromatography (as described in Example 2).

The results are summarized in Table 6.

This example shows that the pullulanase according to the invention is effective in saccharification. The pullulanase of the invention thus has all the appropriate properties compatible with the actual industrial conditions of saccharification of starch.

This example shows that the starch conversion level is greater in the presence of the pullulanase according to the invention at various pH values down to a highly acid pH, that is to say to at least 3.9.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                                     Products obtained in %                                             pH    Examples    Glucose DP2     DP3  >DP3                                    ______________________________________                                         3.9   11R         94.18   2.92    0.54 2.37                                       10 95.63 2.90 0.73 0.73                                                       4.2 11R 94.18 2.98 0.56 2.29                                                    10 94.79 4.30 0.56 0.38                                                       4.5 11R 93.72 2.88 0.57 2.83                                                    10 95.49 3.00 0.75 0.76                                                       4.8 11R 93.32 2.79 0.60 3.30                                                    10 95.25 2.70 0.87 1.18                                                     ______________________________________                                    

DP2 represents the oligosaccharides containing two glucose units (glucose dimer), DP3 the oligosaccharides containing three glucose units (glucose trimer) and >DP3 the oligosaccharides containing more than 3 glucose units.

EXAMPLE 12 AND EXAMPLE 13R (comparison) Saccharification

Example 10 is repeated, but the pH of the saccharification medium is fixed at a pH of 4.2.

An amount of glucoamylase corresponding to 0.17 DU/g.ds (enzymatic units per g of dry matter of the saccharification medium) is added to the saccharification medium, the glucoamylase used being sold under the trade name DIAZUYME L-200 by SOLVAY ENZYMES.

For Example 12 according to the invention, various amounts of pullanase corresponding to, respectively, 0.0325 PUN/g.ds., 0.050 PUN/g.ds., 0.075 PUN/g.ds. and 0.10 PUN/g.ds. (enzymatic units of pullulanase per gram of dry matter of the saccharification medium) are also added to the saccharification medium in the form of an aqueous concentrated solution of pullulanase (solution A) as described in Example 2.

Comparison Example 13R is carried out as described above for Example 12, but without addition of pullulanase.

The results are summarized in Table 7.

This example shows that the amount of pullulanase which it is necessary to use to observe an increase in the percentage of glucose produced is less than 0.0325 PUN/g.ds.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Pullulanase    Products obtained in %                                          Examples                                                                              PUN/g.ds.   Glucose DP2    DP3  >DP3                                    ______________________________________                                         13R    0           94.78   3.55   0.73 0.94                                      12 0.0325 95.16 3.45 0.78 0.61                                                  0.050 95.30 3.39 0.74 0.56                                                     0.075 95.25 3.47 0.74 0.55                                                     0.10 95.27 3.49 0.70 0.53                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 14 Construction of the Plasmid pUBDEBRA1

The plasmid pUBDEBRA1 (FIG. 1) contains the gene which codes for the pullulanase of the strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D under the control of its own transcription promoter introduced into the vector pUB131. Construction of the plasmid pUBDEBRA1 is described below.

The chromosomal DNA is extracted and purified from a culture of the strain Bacillus deramificans T 89.117D (identified under the number LMG P-13056).

For this purpose, a culture of 200 ml of this bacillus is carried out in liquid MYE medium (Example 1).

When this culture has been realized and is in the stationary phase; it is centrifuged (BECKMAN JA-10 rotor) at 5000 revolutions per minute for 10 minutes. The centrifugation pellet thus obtained is taken up in 9 ml of buffer comprising 0.1 M TRIS-HCl (tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane acidified with HCl) at a pH of 8, 0.1 M EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and 0.15 M NaCl containing 18 mg of lysozyme, and the suspension thus obtained is incubated for 15 minutes at 37° C.

The lysate thus obtained is then treated with 200 μl of a solution of 10 mg/ml of RNAse at 50° C. for 20 minutes. 1 ml of a 10% strength solution of SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) is then added to this lysate. This lysate is then incubated for 30 minutes at 70° C.

The lysate is then cooled to about 45° C. and 0.5 ml of a solution of 20 mg/ml of proteinase K (prepared extemporaneously) is then added thereto.

The lysate is incubated at 45° C., while stirring manually, until a transparent solution is obtained.

Several extractions with phenol are carried out on this transparent solution under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures described in Molecular Cloning--a laboratory manual--SAMBROOK, FRITSCH, MANIATIS--second edition, 1989, on page E.3, until a proper interface, as described there, is obtained.

The DNA is precipitated by 20 ml of ethanol. The precipitate is collected by centrifugation at 5000 revolutions per minute for 5 minutes, and is then suspended in 2 ml of TE buffer at pH 8.0 (10 mM TRIS-HCl, 1 mM EDTA at pH 8.0).

The DNA thus obtained is then partly cleaved by the restriction enzyme Sau3AI. The restriction conditions in this example and in all the other examples of this application are those described by SAMBROOK et al. (page 5.28-5.32), except that these restriction conditions are increased by a factor of 10 in order to obtain a sufficient amount of DNA for the following purification stages.

The ratio between the amount of DNA used and the amount of enzyme is adjusted in order to obtain a maximum of fragments of a size between 5 and 10 kbp (kbp: 10³ base pairs).

The combined fragments thus obtained are then subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis (0.8%) as described by SAMBROOK et al. (page 6.01-6.19), and the fragments of a size between 5 and 10 kbp are isolated and purified by the GENE CLEAN method. They are then spliced with the plasmid pBR322, which is sold by the company BIOLABS [CLONTECH LABORATORIES (USA) catalogue No. 6210-1], cut at the BamHI site and dephosphorylated as described by SAMBROOK et al. (page 1.60-1.61). This same technique is used in the other examples.

The splice thus obtained is transformed into cells of E. coli MC1061 [CLONTECH LABORATORIES, catalogue No. C-1070-1] by electroporation (SAMBROOK et al., page 1.75-1.81); the transformed strains are selected on a Petri dish containing LB (Luria-Bertani) agar-agar medium and 100 μg/ml of ampicillin, after growth at 37° C. for about 18 hours. The LB medium is described by SAMBROOK et al. (page A.4). This medium contains 10 g/l of tryptone, 5 g/l of yeast extract and 10 g/l of sodium chloride.

The colonies obtained on these dishes are then replicated on two dishes of the same medium.

One of the two dishes is covered with an agar-agar medium containing 1% (w/v) of agar, 100 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.5) and 0.1% (w/v) of AZCL-pullulane. After incubation at 60° C. for 18 hours, the colony showing the largest zone of hydrolysis of the AZCL-pullulane is identified and the corresponding colony is isolated on the other replicated dish.

A strain is thus obtained from which the plasmid called pBRDEBRA3 is extracted. The EcoRI-BamHI fragment of about 4.6 kbp of the plasmid pBRDEBRA3 is obtained by double digestion of the plasmid pBRDEBRA3 with BamHI and EcoRI, and purification by agarose gel electrophoresis (0.8% w/v). This fragment is then spliced with the vector pUB131 (described in European Patent Application 0 415 296) , which was previously the subject of double digestion with BamHI and EcoRI at the BamHI and EcoRI sites using the strain Bacillus subtilis PSL1 as the host.

The strain Bacillus subtilis PSL1 can be obtained from the B.G.S.C. collection under number 1A510 (BACILLUS GENETIC STOCK CENTER, Ohio State University, United States).

The plasmid pUBDEBRA1 thus obtained is isolated and purified from transformed PSL1 cells by the technique of alkaline lysis (SAMBROOK et al., page 1.25-1.28). This same technique is used in the other examples.

All the transformed strains of Bacillus subtilis are capable of expressing the gene of pullulanase and of secreting pullulanase.

The transformed PSL1 strains containing the plasmid pUBDEBRA1 are subcultured on a Petri dish containing LB medium with 25 μg/ml of kanamycin.

The colonies obtained are covered by a top layer of agarose (1% weight/volume) containing AZCL-pullulane (0.1% a weight/volume) and sodium acetate (100 mM, pH 4.5). After incubation at 60° C. for 18 hours, it is found that all the colonies of the transformed strains are surrounded by a hydrolysis.halo of AZCL-pullulane.

EXAMPLE 15

Preparation of the Strain Bacillus Licheniformis SE2 delap1

Identification of the Terminal Parts of the Gene of the Alkaline Protease of the Host Strain of Bacillus licheniformis SE2

This example relates to identification of the terminal parts of the gene of the alkaline protease of the host strain of Bacillus licheniformis in order to prepare the deletion plasmid for deletion of the said gene of Bacillus licheniformis SE2.

1. Extraction of the chromosomal DNA from B. licheniformis SE2

In order to isolate the gene of the alkaline protease of the chromosomal DNA of Bacillus licheniformis SE2, the chromosomal DNA is first extracted in accordance with the method described in Example 14 for extraction of chromosomal DNA, except that the culture medium comprises LB medium and is purified.

2. Identification of the C-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease

The chromosomal DNA extracted is subjected to a restriction analysis described in Molecular Cloning--SAMBROOK et al. (page 1.85) and Molecular Cloning, a laboratory Manual, MANIATIS et al., 1982 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, pages 374-379. The DNA fragments obtained from these digestions are separated according to their size on an 0.8% (weight/volume) agarose gel.

The agarose gel is then subjected to analysis by the SOUTHERN BLOT technique (technique described by SAMBROOK et al.--page 9.31) in order to identify the fragments which contain the nucleotide sequences of the C-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease.

The probe constructed, which is used for the hybridizations, is a synthetic oligonucleotide corresponding to the C-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease. The technique used to construct the synthetic oligonucleotide is described in BEAUCAGE, S.L. et al. (1981), Tetrahedron Letters, 22, pages 1859-1882, using β-cyanoethyl-phosphoramidites in a BIOSEARCH CYCLONE SYNTHESIZER apparatus. The synthetic oligonucleotide sequence which was constructed is as follows (SEQ ID NO:2):

5'-GGCGGAGCAAGCTTTGTGG-3'

These results show that the C-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease is located on the PstI fragment of about 2.7 kbp.

The hybridization with the DNA probes is carried out in accordance with the technique described in Molecular Cloning--SAMBROOK et al.--page 9.52-9.55. This same technique is used in the other examples.

The preparation of the extracted chromosomal DNA originating from the strain of Bacillus licheniformis SE2 is then digested with the enzyme PstI and the fragments obtained are separated according to their size by agarose gel electrophoresis (0.8%).

The PstI fragments obtained of about 2.7 kbp are extracted from the gels and purified by the so-called "GENE CLEAN" technique, which uses glass beads and is marketed by the company BIO101 (USA).

The PstI fragments of 2.7 kbp are then spliced (SAMBROOK et al., page 1.68-1.69) with the plasmid pUC18 (CLONTECH Laboratories, No. 6110-1) which has first been digested at the PstI site and dephosphorylated. The splice thus obtained was then transformed into the cells of Escherichia coli MC1061 by the technique with CaCl₂ (SAMBROOK et al.--page 1.82-1.84). The technique which allows dephosphorylation of the DNA fragments or linearization of the vectors is described by SAMBROOK et al. (page 1.60-1.61). The splicing technique is also described by SAMBROOK et al. (page 1.68-1.69).

The transformed strains are selected on Petri dishes containing LB agar-agar medium supplemented with 100 μg/ml of ampicillin. The strains transformed starting from E. coli MC1061 thus obtained are then selected by hybridization with the synthetic oligonucleotide labelled using the C-terminal probe used in the SOUTHERN study and the plasmid pKC1 is isolated.

The synthetic oligonucleotide is labelled by phosphorylation with ^(32P-) γ-ATP using the T4 polynucleotide kinase of the phage T4 and in accordance with the technique described by SAMBROOK et al. (page 11.31-11.33).

3. Identification of the N-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease

The chromosomal DNA extracted is subjected to restriction analysis. The DNA fragments obtained from these digestions are separated according to their size on a 0.8% agarose gel.

The agarose gel is then subjected to analysis by the SOUTHERN BLOT technique in order to identify the fragments which contain the nucleotide sequences of the N-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease.

The probe which is used for the hybridizations is a synthetic oligonucleotide corresponding to the N-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease. The sequence of the synthetic oligonucleotide which has been constructed is as follows (SEQ ID NO:3):

5'-ATGGCTCCTGGCGCAGGC-3'

These results show that the N-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease is located on the PstI fragment of about 5.5 kbp and also on a smaller BclI-PstI fragment of about 2 kbp. This fragment does not contain the restriction sites XbaI, ClaI, HpaI and SphI.

The preparation of the extracted chromosomal DNA originating from the strain of Bacillus licheniformis SE2 is then digested with the enzyme PstI and the fragments obtained are separated according to their size by agarose gel electrophoresis (0.8%).

The fragments obtained of about 5.5 kbp are extracted from the gels and purified by the so-called "GENE CLEAN" technique (company BIO 101).

The PstI fragments of 5.5 kbp thus obtained are then subjected to a series of digestions with BclI, XbaI, ClaI, HpaI and SphI. The DNA fragments thus produced are spliced with the plasmid pMK4 (as described in SULLIVAN et al., (1984), Gene 29, pages 1-26) which has first been linearized by BamHI and PstI. The plasmid pMK4 can be obtained from the B.G.S.C. collection (Bacillus Genetic Stock Center (Ohio State University) Columbus, Ohio, USA) under number 1E29.

The splices thus obtained were then transformed into the cells of Escherichia coli MC1061 by the technique with CaCl₂.

The transformed strains are selected on Petri dishes containing LB agar-agar medium supplemented with 100 μg/ml of ampicillin. The strains transformed starting from E. coli MC1061 thus obtained are then selected by hybridization with the synthetic oligonucleotide labelled using the N-terminal probe in the SOUTHERN study and the plasmid pKP1 is isolated.

EXAMPLE 16 Sequences of the Alkaline Protease

The sequences of the fragments introduced into the plasmids pKP1 and pKC1 are determined from the Pst1 sites up to the SacI sites in accordance with the technique described by SAMBROOK et al. (pages 13.15 and 13.17 and FIG. 13.3B)

EXAMPLE 17 Construction of the Plasmid pLD1

The plasmid pLD1 (FIG. 2) is constructed with the aim of preparing the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1. The construction of the plasmid pLD1 is described below.

The plasmid pKP1 (as obtained in Example 15) is unstable in E. coli MC1061. For this reason, the chromosomal DNA fragment containing the N-terminal part of the gene of the alkaline protease of B. licheniformis SE2 was introduced into the vector pACYC184 (BIOLABS, USA, under number #401-M). This introduction was carried out by introducing the EcoRI-EcoRI fragment of 1849 bp of the plasmid pKP1 into the EcoRI site of the plasmid pACYC184 and the splicing is used to transform the cells of E. coli MC1061. The plasmid pKPN11 is thus obtained.

The transformed strains are selected on a Petri dish containing LB agar-agar medium supplemented with 12.5 μg/ml of tetracycline. The orientation of the EcoRI-EcoRI fragment of 1849 bp in the plasmid pKPN11 is determined by restriction analysis (SAMBROOK et al.--page 1.85 and MANIATIS et al.--page 374-379).

The plasmid pKPN12 is obtained in the following manner: the StyI-StyI fragment of 1671 bp of the plasmid pKPN11 is removed by digestion with StyI, followed by replacement of this fragment by the following synthetic double-stranded DNA, which has been produced beforehand:

                           (SEQ ID NO:4)                                           5' - CTTG GAGCTC GTTAAC AGATCT      - 3'                                          -                     (SEQ ID NO:5)                                         3' -      CTCGAG CAATTG TCTAGA GTTC - 5'                                          -      (StyI) SacI  HpaI  BalII (StyI)                                 

Digestion of plasmids with restriction enzymes is carried out in accordance with the technique described by SAMBROOK et al.--1989--chapters 5.28-5.32.

The DNA fragment originating from the plasmid pUB131 which codes for the resistance to kanamycin and to bleomycin or to phleomycin was obtained as follows:

The PstI-TaqI fragment of 2666 bp, which carries the genes which code for resistance to kanamycin and to bleomycin or to phleomycin, is obtained by double digestion of PstI-TaqI of the plasmid pUB131. This fragment is introduced into the PstI-AccI sites of the plasmid pBS- (STRATAGENE, USA, under number 211202). The plasmid pBSKMPM is thus obtained.

During the preparation of the plasmid pBSKMPM, a small deletion in the region of the bond with the plasmid pBS- appears, which causes the loss of the SphI and PstI sites in the plasmid pBSKMPM. The plasmid PBSKMPM is used to produce a single-stranded DNA used to effect site-directed mutagenesis with the aim of introducing the two synthetic nucleotides, the SmaI sites of which are identified below, one being situated in front of and the other after the genes of resistance to kanamycin and to phleomycin.

The technique of site-directed mutagenesis is described by SAMBROOK et al.--page 15.74-15.79. It uses the mutagenesis kit sold by BIO-RAD (No. 170-3576).

The sequences of the synthetic oligonucleotides used for the mutagenesis are as follows (SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:7 respectively):

       5'-CATCTAATCTTCAACACCCGGGCCCGTTTGTTGAAC-3'                                                          SmaI                                                      - 5'-CAAAATAAAAAAGATACAACCCGGGTCTCTCGTATCTTTTAT-3'                                                  SmaI                                              

The plasmid obtained by this mutagenesis in the presence of the two oligonucleotides is the plasmid pBSKMPM1. This plasmid contains two SmaI restriction sites which allow isolation of the DNA fragment containing the genes which code for resistance to kanamycin and phleomycin.

The SmaI-SmaI fragment of 1597 bp of the plasmid pBSKMPM1 is then introduced into the SmaI site of the plasmid pKPN12, and the plasmid pKPN14 is thus obtained.

Proper orientation of the fragment introduced into the plasmid pKPN14 is verified by carrying out a selection on preparations of plasmid DNA by restriction analysis (SAMBROOK et al.--page 1.85).

The DNA fragment present on the plasmid pKC1 and located before the N-terminal sequence of the alkaline protease is isolated on the SacI-HindIII fragment of 1.2 kbp of the plasmid pKC1 (as obtained in Example 15) by digestion, initially with HindIII.

The projecting 5' end of HindIII is rendered blunt-ended by treatment with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase (SAMBROOK et al.--page F.2-F.3). The SacI restriction is thus effected in order to produce the desired blunt-ended SacI-HindIII fragment. This fragment is introduced into the HpaI and SacI sites of the plasmid pKPNl14, producing the plasmid pLID1.

All these constructions are effected by transformation of the strain E. coli MC1061 in the presence of tetracycline (12 μg/ml) for selection of the transformed strains.

A plasmid which is capable of multiplying in B. subtilis and in B. licheniformis is constructed from the plasmid pLID1 by replacing the replication functions of the E. coli, which are carried by the BglII-BglII fragment of 3623 bp of the plasmid pLID1, by the fragment which carries the replication functions of the Bacillus: fragment BglII-BamHI of 2238 bp isolated from the plasmid pUB131.

This replacement of replication functions of E. coli by Bacillus cells was effected by first isolating the BglII-BglII fragment of 3.6 kbp from the plasmid pLID1 by digestion of the plasmid pLID1 with BglII and BamHI. Supplementary BamHI digestion was necessary, and in fact BglII digestion alone would result in fragments of identical size which could not be separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The BglII-BglII fragment of 3.6 kbp is thus cloned in the strain of Bacillus subtilis SE3 in the fragment BglII-BamHI of 2238 bp which has been isolated from the plasmid pUB131, producing the plasmid pLD1 (FIG. 2).

The strain Bacillus subtilis SE3 was deposited on Jun. 21, 1993 at the collection called the BELGIAN COORDINATED COLLECTIONS OF MICROORGANISMS in accordance with the Treaty of Budapest under number LMG P-14035.

EXAMPLE 18 Construction of Bacillus Licheniformis SE2 Delap1

The desired modifications in the chromosomal DNA of the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 are effected by techniques based on homologous recombination. The modifications are effected to produce the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1.

The plasmid pLD1 is transformed in B. licheniformis SE2 by the protoplast technique described by Molecular Biological Methods for Bacillus (pages 150-151) and under the conditions defined, except for the following modifications the lysozyme powder is added in an amount of 5 mg/ml in the SMMP, instead of 1 mg/ml as defined in stage 7 of the procedure described, the incubation period to obtain maximum lysis with the lysozyme is 60 minutes, and the regeneration is carried out in DM3 medium (described by Molecular Biological Methods for Bacillus (HARWOOD et al., eds) John Wiley and Sons (1990) (pages 150-151)) containing 200 μg/ml of kanamycin.

A transformed strain is isolated and the restriction map of the plasmid pLD1 introduced into this strain is verified.

The transformed strain is cultured in 50 ml of an LB medium supplemented with 2 g/l of glucose and 25 μg/ml of kanamycin for 18 hours at 37° C.

A sample of culture (0.1 ml) is taken and used to inoculate a conical flask containing 50 ml of the same LB medium. The culture is incubated at 37° C. for 18 hours. A sample of this culture is taken and tested on a Petri dish containing LB agar-agar medium supplemented with 25 μg/ml of kanamycin and 1% (weight/volume) of skimmed milk (DIFCO) to detect the presence of protease.

The absence of a hydrolysis halo around the colonies which show growth on these Petri dishes indicates that these colonies are unable to produce an alkaline protease.

The cultures and tests are repeated until a strain (apr⁻, Km^(r)), that is to say both no longer producing alkaline protease (apr⁻) and resistant to kanamycin (Km^(r)), is obtained.

The plasmid pLD1 present in this strain of Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1 is then removed from it by culture on a growth medium at 37° C. in the absence of antibiotic.

This strain is cultured in 50 ml of LB medium supplemented with 2 g/l of glucose for 18 hours at 37° C. A volume of 0.1 ml of this culture is taken and used to inoculate another conical flask also containing 50 ml of the same medium, culture lasting 18 hours at 37° C. A sample is then taken and is spread out on a Petri dish containing LB medium. The colonies isolated are subcultured on a second dish of LB medium supplemented with 25 μg/ml of kanamycin. A strain which is sensitive to kanamycin (Km^(s)) is isolated. Its phenotype is confirmed (apr⁻, Km^(s)).

The chromosomal DNA of this strain is then isolated and purified and the structure of the chromosomal deletion is verified by the SOUTHERN BLOT technique. The deletions identified are correct as regards their position, having taken place by homologous double recombination in the sequences situated before (5') and after (3') in the gene of the alkaline protease.

The strain obtained is called B. licheniformis SE2 delapi. It does not produce alkaline protease.

EXAMPLE 19 Transformation of Bacillus Licheniformis SE2 Delap1 with the Expression Vector

The plasmid pUBDEBRA1 (FIG. 1) described in Example 14 is extracted from its host, isolated and purified (SAMBROOK et al., 1989, pages 1.25-1.28).

A culture of the strain B. licheniformis SE2 delap1 described in Example 18 is prepared and this strain is then transformed with this plasmid in accordance with the protoplast technique described by MANIATIS et al. (pages 150-151).

The transformed strain is selected on a Petri dish, isolated and purified by screening.

EXAMPLE 20 Production of Pullulanase by B. Licheniformis SE2 Delap1 (pUBDEBRA1)

The strain B. licheniformis SE2 delap1 transformed by the plasmid pUBDEBRA1 as obtained in Example 19 is cultured for 17 hours at 37° C. in a preculture LB medium supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) of glucose and 20 μg/ml of kanamycin. This preculture is transferred (5% v/v) into 50 ml of M2 medium supplemented with 20 μg/ml of kanamycin. The M2 medium contains 30 g of soya flour, 75 g of soluble starch, 2 g of sodium sulphate, 5 mg of magnesium chloride, 3 g of NaH₂ PO₄, 0.2 g of CaCl₂.H₂ O and 1000 ml of water. The pH of this M2 medium is adjusted to 5.8 with 10 N NaOH before its sterilization. The culture is incubated, while stirring, for 80 hours at 37° C. After 80 hours, the biomass is eliminated by centrifugation at 5000 revolutions per minute for 10 minutes. The supernatant from the centrifugation is kept. The enzymatic activity of this supernatant is measured and the presence of a pullulanase activity is recorded.

EXAMPLE 21 Construction of Bacillus Licheniformis SE2 delap1 (pUBCDEBRA11DNSI)--Chromosomal Integration

This example relates to integration of the gene which codes for the pullulanase into the chromosome of the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1.

For this purpose, the EcoRI-BamHI fragment of 4.6 kb of the plasmid pBRDEBRA3 is cloned into the EcoRI and BamHI sites of the pUBC131 vector by transformation of the strain E. coli MC1061, thus generating the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11.

The integration vector pUBCDEBRA11DNSI (FIG. 3) is then constructed by deleting the NsiI-NsiI fragment of 886 bp of the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11. The plasmid thus obtained has lost the possibility of replicating itself in Bacillus owing to the loss of the NsiI fragment of 886 bp.

To effect this construction, the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11 is cleaved by the NsiI restriction enzyme and the NsiI-NsiI fragment of about 9.4 kbp is purified by agarose gel electrophoresis. This fragment is then subjected to splicing in order to recircularize it. The splicing is transformed into E. coli MC1061 and the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11DNSI1 is obtained.

In order to integrate the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11DNSI1 into the strain B. licheniformis SE2 delap1, it is necessary for this plasmid to carry a DNA fragment homologous to the chromosomal DNA. Chromosomal Sau3AI fragments originating from B. licheniformis were thus cloned into the BamHI site of the integration vector pUBCDEBRA11DNSI1.

For this purpose, the chromosomal DNA extracted from the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1 is partially cleaved by the Sau3AI restriction enzyme. The DNA fragments of a size between 1.5 and 3 kb are then purified by agarose gel and spliced with the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11DNSI cleaved by the BamHI restriction enzyme and dephosphorylated. The splice thus obtained is transformed into the cells of MC1061 by electroporation. After selection on LB agar-agar medium containing 100 μg/ml of ampicillin, about 3000 colonies are obtained. All of these colonies are suspended in LB medium and the plasmids are extracted by the alkaline lysis technique (SAMBROOK et al., pages 1.25-1.28).

The preparation of plasmids thus obtained is thus introduced into the strain Bacillus licheniformis SE2 delap1 by transformation by the protoplast technique. The transformed cells are selected on DM3 regeneration medium (described in Molecular Biological Methods for Bacillus (Harwood, C. R. and Cutting, S. M., eds) J. Wiley and sons, 1990, pages 150-151) for their resistance to phleomycin (17 μg/ml), which can be conferred on them only by chromosomal integration of one of the plasmids constructed above.

The colonies thus obtained are subcultured on LB agar-agar medium supplemented with 5 μg/ml of phleomycin and 0.06% of AZCL-pullulane. The colony having the largest hydrolysis halo of AZCL-pullulane is then isolated and subcultured on LB agar-agar medium.

The plasmid content of this strain is then extracted. The preparation thus obtained is subjected to analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis, which shows the absence of plasmid.

The chromosomal DNA is extracted and purified as described in Example 14 and subjected to analysis by the SOUTHERN technique, which shows that the plasmid pUBCDEBRA11DNSI has been integrated into the chromosomal DNA by homologous recombination into an Sau3AI fragment of about 3 kb.

This demonstrates that the gene which codes for the pullulanase of B. deramificans is expressed in B. licheniformis in the integrated state in the chromosome.

EXAMPLE 22 Process for the Production of Pullulanase by the Strain Bacillus Licheniformis SE2 delap1 (pUBCDEBRA11DNSI)

The strain B. licheniformis SE2 delapi containing the gene of pullulanase in the integrated form in the chromosomal DNA as obtained in Example 21 is cultured for 17 hours at 37° C. in a preculture LB medium supplemented with 0.5% (w/w) of glucose and 5 μg/ml of phleomycin. A volume of 10 ml of this preculture is inoculated in 250 ml of M2 medium (described in Example 20) supplemented with 5 μg/ml of phleomycin in baffled flasks.

After incubation for 24 hours, while stirring, at 37° C., all of the culture thus obtained is introduced into a fermenter containing 6.5 1 of M2 medium. Fermentation is continued for 72 hours at 37° C. The pH is kept at a value below 7.0 by addition of concentrated phosphoric acid, the air flow rate is kept at 4 liters/minute and the stirring is adjusted in order to obtain a dissolved oxygen content of greater than 30% (v/v) of the content of saturation.

After addition to the culture obtained of 50 ml of a flocculating agent based on polyamine, sold under the trade name OPTIFLOC® FC 205 by SOLVAY DEUTSCHLAND, the biomass is removed by centrifugation (BECKMAN JA-10) at 5000 revolutions/minute for 15 minutes and the supernatant obtained is acidified to pH 4.5 with a solution of 1 M HCl. The solution obtained is centrifuged again at 8000 revolutions/minute for 15 minutes (BECKMAN JA-10).

The supernatant is then concentrated to a final volume of 1 liter by ultrafiltration using an ultrafiltration unit fitted with a membrane with a resolution limit of 5000 Daltons.

Acetone is then added to this concentrated solution to a final concentration of 60% (v/v). The suspension formed is incubated at 4° C. for 2 hours and then centrifuged at 8000 revolutions/minute for 15 minutes (BECKMAN JA-10). The centrifugation residue obtained is suspended in 100 ml of an aqueous solution containing 30% (w/v) of starch of the trade name MALTRIN® 250 (GRAIN PROCESSING CORPORATION), 0.3% (w/v) of sodium benzoate and 0.15% (w/v) of potassium sorbate at a pH of 4.5. The purified preparation of the pullulanase produced by the recombinant strain thus obtained is called solution D.

The activity of the pullulanase of solution D, measured by the reducing sugars method, is 150 PUN/ml.

EXAMPLE 23 Stability of the Pullulanase Produced by the Strain Bacillus Licheniformis SE2 delap1 (pUBCDEBRA11DNSI) with Respect to Temperature

Solution D of pullulanase as obtained in Example 22 is diluted such that it develops an enzymatic activity of between 10 and 15 PUN/ml in a 0.05 M citrate/phosphate buffer at a pH of 4.75.

This dilute solution containing the pullulanase is divided into 9 tubes in an amount of 5 ml of dilute solution per tube.

The various tubes containing the dilute solution are incubated in water baths at temperatures of between 40 and 80° C. for 75 minutes.

After this incubation, the tubes are placed in an ice bath for rapid cooling.

The enzymatic activity of the various solutions is then measured (measurement conditions: temperature of 60° C., pH of 4.5, incubation period of 15 minutes).

In the course of this test, the maximum enzymatic activity was measured for the sample placed at a pH of about 4.75 and at a temperature of about 55° C. By definition, a relative enzymatic activity of 100% was thus attributed to this sample.

The results are summarized in Table 12.

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Relative enzymatic                                                  Temperature activity %                                                       ______________________________________                                         40           99                                                                  45 99                                                                          50 100                                                                         55 100                                                                         60 96                                                                          65 83                                                                          70  2                                                                          80  1                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

This example shows that the pullulanase according to the invention has a relative enzymatic activity of at least 80%, measured after an incubation of 75 minutes at a pH of 4.75 in the absence of substrate and in a temperature range of less than or equal to 65° C.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 15                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 20 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                            - -      (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: N-terminal fragment                                - -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                           (A) ORGANISM: Bacillus - #deramificans                                         (B) STRAIN: T 89.117D                                                 - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - Asp Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr Ile Ile Val His Ty - #r Phe Cys Pro Ala         Gly                                                                                1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15              - - Asp Tyr Gln Pro                                                                        20                                                                 - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 19 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid (other);                                       (A) DESCRIPTION: synthetic - # DNA                                    - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - GGCGGAGCAA GCTTTGTGG             - #                  - #                       - # 19                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 18 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid (other);                                       (A) DESCRIPTION: synthetic - # DNA                                    - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - ATGGCTCCTG GCGCAGGC             - #                  - #                       - #  18                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid (other);                                       (A) DESCRIPTION: synthetic - # DNA                                    - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - CTTGGAGCTC GTTAACAGAT CT           - #                  - #                      22                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 22 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid (other);                                       (A) DESCRIPTION: synthetic - # DNA                                    - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                - - CTTGAGATCT GTTAACGAGC TC           - #                  - #                      22                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 36 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid (other);                                       (A) DESCRIPTION: synthetic - # DNA                                    - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                - - CATCTAATCT TCAACACCCG GGCCCGTTTG TTGAAC      - #                  -      #       36                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 42 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid (other);                                       (A) DESCRIPTION: synthetic - # DNA                                    - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                - - CAAAATAAAA AAGATACAAC CCGGGTCTCT CGTATCTTTT AT    - #                       - #  42                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4464 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: genomic DNA                                        - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                - - GGATCCTGTT AGACTATTTG AGGAGTTTGC AACACTTGAT GTTTTATCCA AA -              #GGAAGGGC     60                                                                  - - CGGAGATCAT CGCTGGTCGA GGTGCTTTCG GTGAAGCATT TTCGCTATTT TG -             #GGTATAAC    120                                                                  - - CGGGCGCATT ACGATCAATT GTTTGAAGAG CATCTTGATT TACTTCAAAA GC -             #TGAATGCT    180                                                                  - - TCGAAAAGAA TAACATGGAG CGGGCTTTAT CGAACACCTA TACATGATGC AG -             #ATATCGCA    240                                                                  - - CCCCGCCCTG TTCAGAAAAA CATTCCTTTG TGGGTTGGGG TGGGTGGGAC NM -             #NTGAAASC    300                                                                  - - NSYKCKYYGT GCRNVSNNNT ATGGTGCCGG CTTAGCATGG GTATTTTGTC AG -             #GCGATTGG    360                                                                  - - CTTCGGTTTA AGGCACTTTC GGACCTTTAT CGGCAGGCCG GCCAACAAGC AN -             #GGTATTCA    420                                                                  - - CCGAACGATC TGAAAGTAGG AGTGACAGGG CATGCGTTTA TTGGAAAGAC GT -             #CGCAGCAG    480                                                                  - - GCACTCAATG ACTATTACCC CTATCACGCG AATTATTGGC TAACACTGAA CC -             #AACAATTA    540                                                                  - - GGGCAGCCGT TACCCCAGCA ATACGTGAGG GAATTTAATT TATTAGCCTC CC -             #CAGAGCAA    600                                                                  - - GCCTTATATG TGGGAAGCTC TCAACAAGTG GGCAGGNAAA AATTTTGCGC CA -             #ACATGAGG    660                                                                  - - NATTTGGTNA TAAACGTTTT ATCGCACAGA TCGACATTGG CGGAATGCCC TT -             #TAAAACAG    720                                                                  - - TGGCCAAGAA TATTGAGCGG TTAGGCCACT GAGGTTGCAC CTGTCGTACG AA -             #GAGCAACA    780                                                                  - - AGAGGGTAAT GGTAATAATC TATTTAACTG TTTATTAGAA AACTTGGTAT CT -             #GTTTAATT    840                                                                  - - AAATAACAGG AGCCTGGAAG TGGGCCAAGG CTCCTTTCTA GGGAAACCTT TT -             #TCTATTTA    900                                                                  - - TATAGGCGTT GTTGCCTAAG GCTAAAGTAG GATTTTATTA AAAATATAGG AA -             #TTGCTCTT    960                                                                  - - TTATTCGACA CAATTATTCA ATGGAATACG ATAAAATGGA GAGTGTATGT AA -             #GCGTTATA   1020                                                                  - - TTTTATTGGG GGGCTGATAG AAGAAAAGGG ATGCGACAGG GTCTATTAGC TA -             #GTTTGGTA   1080                                                                  - - TTCGATTTCA GATCAATGCA ACGTACGAGT TTTTTATTGA CTGCTTTGTG CA -             #AGCGATTG   1140                                                                  - - CATTGAAACA AAGGAGGACA TTATGGCTAA AAAACTAATT TATGTGTGTT TA -             #AGTGTTTG   1200                                                                  - - TTTAGTGTTG ACCTGGGCTT TTAATGTAAA AGGGCAATCT GCTCATGCTG AT -             #GGGAACAC   1260                                                                  - - GACAACGATC ATTGTCCACT ATTTTTGCCC TGCTGGTGAT TATCAACCTT GG -             #AGTCTATG   1320                                                                  - - GATGTGGCCA AAAGACGGAG GTGGGGCTGA ATACGATTTC AATCAACCGG CT -             #GACTCTTT   1380                                                                  - - TGGAGCTGTT GCAAGTGCTG ATATTCCAGG AAACCCAAGT CAGGTAGGAA TT -             #ATCGTTCG   1440                                                                  - - CACTCAAGAT TGGACCAAAG ATGTGAGCGC TGACCGCTAC ATAGATTTAA GC -             #AAAGGAAA   1500                                                                  - - TGAGGTGTGG CTTGTAGAAG GAAACAGCCA AATTTTTTAT AATGAAAAAG AT -             #GCTGAGGA   1560                                                                  - - TGCAGCTAAA CCCGCTGTAA GCAACGCTTA TTTAGATGCT TCAAACCAGG TG -             #CTGGTTAA   1620                                                                  - - ACTTAGCCAG CCGTTAACTC TTGGGGAAGG NNNAAGCGGC TTTACGGTTC AT -             #GACGACAC   1680                                                                  - - AGCAAATAAG GATATTCCAG TGACATCTGT GAAGGATGCA AGTCTTGGTC AA -             #GATGTAAC   1740                                                                  - - CGCTGTTTTG GCAGGTACCT TCCAACATAT TTTTGGAGGT TCCGATTGGG CA -             #CCTGATAA   1800                                                                  - - TCACAGTACT TTATTAAAAA AGGTGACTAA CAATCTCTAT CAATTCTCAG GA -             #GATCTTCC   1860                                                                  - - TGAAGGAAAC TACCAATATA AAGTGGCTTT AAATGATAGC TGGAATAATC CG -             #AGTTACCC   1920                                                                  - - ATCTGACAAC ATTAATTTAA CAGTCCCTGC CGGCGGTGCA CACGTCACTT TT -             #TCGTATAT   1980                                                                  - - TCCGTCCACT CATGCAGTCT ATGACACAAT TAATAATCCT AATGCGGATT TA -             #CAAGTAGA   2040                                                                  - - AAGCGGGGTT AAAACGGATC TCGTGACGGT TACTCTAGGG GAAGATCCAG AT -             #GTGAGCCA   2100                                                                  - - TACTCTGTCC ATTCAAACAG ATGGCTATCA GGCAAAGCAG GTGATACCTC GT -             #AATGTGCT   2160                                                                  - - TAATTCATCA CAGTACTACT ATTCAGGAGA TGATCTTGGG AATACCTATA CA -             #CAGAAAGC   2220                                                                  - - AACAACCTTT AAAGTCTGGG CACCAACTTC TACTCAAGTA AATGTTCTTC TT -             #TATGACAG   2280                                                                  - - TGCAACGGGT TCTGTAACAA AAATCGTACC TATGACGGCA TCGGGCCATG GT -             #GTGTGGGA   2340                                                                  - - AGCAACGGTT AATCAAAACC TTGAAAATTG GTATTACATG TATGAGGTAA CA -             #GGCCAAGG   2400                                                                  - - CTCTACCCGA ACGGCTGTTG ATCCTTATGC AACTGCGATT GCACCAAATG GA -             #ACGAGAGG   2460                                                                  - - CATGATTGTG GACCTGGCTA AAACAGATCC TGCTGGCTGG AACAGTGATA AA -             #CATATTAC   2520                                                                  - - GCCAAAGAAT ATAGAAGATG AGGTCATCTA TGAAATGGAT GTCCGTGACT TT -             #TCCATTGA   2580                                                                  - - CCCTAATTCG GGTATGAAAA ATAAAGGGAA GTATTTGGCT CTTACAGAAA AA -             #GGAACAAA   2640                                                                  - - GGGCCCTGAC AACGTAAAGA CGGGGATAGA TTCCTTAAAA CAACTTGGGA TT -             #ACTCATGT   2700                                                                  - - TCAGCTTATG CCTGTTTTCG CATCTAACAG TGTCGATGAA ACTGATCCAA CC -             #CAAGATAA   2760                                                                  - - TTGGGGTTAT GACCCTCGCA ACTATGATGT TCCTGAAGGG CAGTATGCTA CA -             #AATGCGAA   2820                                                                  - - TGGTAATGCT CGTATAAAAG AGTTTAAGGA AATGGTTCTT TCACTCCATC GT -             #GAACACAT   2880                                                                  - - TGGGGTTAAC ATGGATGTTG TCTATAATCA TACCTTTGCC ACGCAAATCT CT -             #GACTTCGA   2940                                                                  - - TAAAATTGTA CCAGAATATT ATTACCGTAC GATGATGCAG GTAATTATAC CA -             #ACGGATCA   3000                                                                  - - GGTACTGGAA ATGAAATTGC ANGCNGAAAG GCCAATGGTT CAAAAATTTA TT -             #ATTGATTC   3060                                                                  - - CCTTAAGTAT TGGGTCAATG AGTATCATAT TGACGGCTTC CGTTTTGACT TA -             #ATGGCGCT   3120                                                                  - - GCTTGGAAAA GACACGATGT CCAAAGCTGC CTCGGAGCTT CATGCTATTA AT -             #CCAGGAAT   3180                                                                  - - TGCACTTTAC GGTGAGCCAT GGACGGGTGG AACCTCTGCA CTGCCAGATG AT -             #CAGCTTCT   3240                                                                  - - GACAAAAGGA GCTCAAAAAG GCATGGGAGT AGCGGTGTTT AATGACAATT TA -             #CGAAACGC   3300                                                                  - - GTTGGACGGC AATGTCTTTG ATTCTTCCGC TCAAGGTTTT GCGACAGGTG CA -             #ACAGGCTT   3360                                                                  - - AACTGATGCA ATTAAGAATG GCGTTGAGGG GAGTATTAAT GACTTTACCT CT -             #TCACCAGG   3420                                                                  - - TGAGACAATT AACTATGTCA CAAGTCATGA TAACTACACC CTTTGGGACA AA -             #ATAGCCCT   3480                                                                  - - AAGCAATCCT AATGATTCCG AAGCGGATCG GATTAAAATG GATGAACTCG CA -             #CAAGCAGT   3540                                                                  - - TGTTATGACC TCACAAGGCG TTCCATTCAT GCAAGGCGGG GAAGAAATGC TT -             #CGTANAAA   3600                                                                  - - AGGCGGCAAC GACAATAGTT ATAATGCAGG CGATGCGGTC AATGAGTTTG AT -             #TGGAGCAG   3660                                                                  - - GAAAGCTCAA TATCCAGATG TTTTCAACTA TTATAGCGGG CTAATCCACC TT -             #CGTCTTGA   3720                                                                  - - TCACCCAGCC TTCCGCATGA CGACAGCTAA TGAAATCAAT AGCCACCTCC AA -             #TTCCTAAA   3780                                                                  - - TAGTCCAGAG AACACAGTGG CCTATGAATT AACTGATCAT GTTAATAAAG AC -             #AAATGGGG   3840                                                                  - - AAATATCATT GTTGTTTATA ACCCAAATAA AACTGTAGCA ACCATCAATT TG -             #CCGAGCGG   3900                                                                  - - GAAATGGGCA ATCAATGCTA CGAGCGGTAA GGTAGGAGAA TCCACCCTTG GT -             #CAAGCAGA   3960                                                                  - - GGGAAGTGTC CAAGTACCAG GTATATCTAT GATGATCCTT CATCAAGAGG TA -             #AGCCCAGA   4020                                                                  - - CCACGGTAAA AAGTAATAGA AAAAAGTAAA ATCCCCTCAA GATGTTTGAG GG -             #GGATTTAG   4080                                                                  - - TTACTTATTA TCCAATTAAT TTGCGGCTTC GGTGTTTTCA ATGGGCTCCG TA -             #TCCGTTCG   4140                                                                  - - GTTGTGTGAT CGGACAAATG GGAGTGAATA GGTCACAAGA GCAGCAGCCA TT -             #TCAAGCAG   4200                                                                  - - ACCAGCGAAA GTAAACATTC GTTCTGGTGC AAATCGGGTC ATCAACCAAC CG -             #GTAATTGC   4260                                                                  - - TTGGGAAATA GGGATGGACC CTGACATCAC GATAATCATA ATACTAATAA CA -             #CGACCGAA   4320                                                                  - - TAACTTAGGT GGAATAAGCG TATGGTTAAC GCTTGGAGCA ATAATATTAA CC -             #GCCGTTTC   4380                                                                  - - ATGAGCGCCA ACAAGCACTA GAAGGGCTAA AATAACCCAT AAGTTGTGTG TA -             #AATCCTAT   4440                                                                  - - AAAAAATAAC ATAAGGCCCT GCAG          - #                  - #                   4464                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 4464 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: genomic DNA                                        - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                - - GGATCCTGTT AGACTATTTG AGGAGTTTGC AACACTTGAT GTTTTATCCA AA -              #GGAAGGGC     60                                                                  - - CGGAGATCAT CGCTGGTCGA GGTGCTTTCG GTGAAGCATT TTCGCTATTT TG -             #GGTATAAC    120                                                                  - - CGGGCGCATT ACGATCAATT GTTTGAAGAG CATCTTGATT TACTTCAAAA GC -             #TGAATGCT    180                                                                  - - TCGAAAAGAA TAACATGGAG CGGGCTTTAT CGAACACCTA TACATGATGC AG -             #ATATCGCA    240                                                                  - - CCCCGCCCTG TTCAGAAAAA CATTCCTTTG TGGGTTGGGG TGGGTGGGAC NM -             #NTGAAASC    300                                                                  - - NSYKCKYYGT GCRNVSNNNT ATGGTGCCGG CTTAGCATGG GTATTTTGTC AG -             #GCGATTGG    360                                                                  - - CTTCGGTTTA AGGCACTTTC GGACCTTTAT CGGCAGGCCG GCCAACAAGC AN -             #GGTATTCA    420                                                                  - - CCGAACGATC TGAAAGTAGG AGTGACAGGG CATGCGTTTA TTGGAAAGAC GT -             #CGCAGCAG    480                                                                  - - GCACTCAATG ACTATTACCC CTATCACGCG AATTATTGGC TAACACTGAA CC -             #AACAATTA    540                                                                  - - GGGCAGCCGT TACCCCAGCA ATACGTGAGG GAATTTAATT TATTAGCCTC CC -             #CAGAGCAA    600                                                                  - - GCCTTATATG TGGGAAGCTC TCAACAAGTG GGCAGGNAAA AATTTTGCGC CA -             #ACATGAGG    660                                                                  - - NATTTGGTNA TAAACGTTTT ATCGCACAGA TCGACATTGG CGGAATGCCC TT -             #TAAAACAG    720                                                                  - - TGGCCAAGAA TATTGAGCGG TTAGGCCACT GAGGTTGCAC CTGTCGTACG AA -             #GAGCAACA    780                                                                  - - AGAGGGTAAT GGTAATAATC TATTTAACTG TTTATTAGAA AACTTGGTAT CT -             #GTTTAATT    840                                                                  - - AAATAACAGG AGCCTGGAAG TGGGCCAAGG CTCCTTTCTA GGGAAACCTT TT -             #TCTATTTA    900                                                                  - - TATAGGCGTT GTTGCCTAAG GCTAAAGTAG GATTTTATTA AAAATATAGG AA -             #TTGCTCTT    960                                                                  - - TTATTCGACA CAATTATTCA ATGGAATACG ATAAAATGGA GAGTGTATGT AA -             #GCGTTATA   1020                                                                  - - TTTTATTGGG GGGCTGATAG AAGAAAAGGG ATGCGACAGG GTCTATTAGC TA -             #GTTTGGTA   1080                                                                  - - TTCGATTTCA GATCAATGCA ACGTACGAGT TTTTTATTGA CTGCTTTGTG CA -             #AGCGATTG   1140                                                                  - - CATTGAAACA AAGGAGGACA TT ATG GCT AAA AAA CTA ATT - # TAT GTG TGT             1189                                                                                         - #    Met Ala Lys Lys Leu Ile Tyr Val - #Cys                                  - #                 -25                                       - - TTA AGT GTT TGT TTA GTG TTG ACC TGG GCT TT - #T AAT GTA AAA GGG CAA          1237                                                                        Leu Ser Val Cys Leu Val Leu Thr Trp Ala Ph - #e Asn Val Lys Gly Gln           20                 - - #15                 - - #10                  - #-5        - - TCT GCT CAT GCT GAT GGG AAC ACG ACA ACG AT - #C ATT GTC CAC TAT TTT          1285                                                                        Ser Ala His Ala Asp Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr Il - #e Ile Val His Tyr Phe                      -1  +1     - #          5        - #          10                      - - TGC CCT GCT GGT GAT TAT CAA CCT TGG AGT CT - #A TGG ATG TGG CCA AAA          1333                                                                        Cys Pro Ala Gly Asp Tyr Gln Pro Trp Ser Le - #u Trp Met Trp Pro Lys                     15         - #         20         - #         25                       - - GAC GGA GGT GGG GCT GAA TAC GAT TTC AAT CA - #A CCG GCT GAC TCT TTT          1381                                                                        Asp Gly Gly Gly Ala Glu Tyr Asp Phe Asn Gl - #n Pro Ala Asp Ser Phe                 30             - #     35             - #     40                           - - GGA GCT GTT GCA AGT GCT GAT ATT CCA GGA AA - #C CCA AGT CAG GTA GGA          1429                                                                        Gly Ala Val Ala Ser Ala Asp Ile Pro Gly As - #n Pro Ser Gln Val Gly             45                 - # 50                 - # 55                 - # 60        - - ATT ATC GTT CGC ACT CAA GAT TGG ACC AAA GA - #T GTG AGC GCT GAC CGC          1477                                                                        Ile Ile Val Arg Thr Gln Asp Trp Thr Lys As - #p Val Ser Ala Asp Arg                             65 - #                 70 - #                 75               - - TAC ATA GAT TTA AGC AAA GGA AAT GAG GTG TG - #G CTT GTA GAA GGA AAC          1525                                                                        Tyr Ile Asp Leu Ser Lys Gly Asn Glu Val Tr - #p Leu Val Glu Gly Asn                         80     - #             85     - #             90                   - - AGC CAA ATT TTT TAT AAT GAA AAA GAT GCT GA - #G GAT GCA GCT AAA CCC          1573                                                                        Ser Gln Ile Phe Tyr Asn Glu Lys Asp Ala Gl - #u Asp Ala Ala Lys Pro                     95         - #        100         - #        105                       - - GCT GTA AGC AAC GCT TAT TTA GAT GCT TCA AA - #C CAG GTG CTG GTT AAA          1621                                                                        Ala Val Ser Asn Ala Tyr Leu Asp Ala Ser As - #n Gln Val Leu Val Lys                110              - #   115              - #   120                           - - CTT AGC CAG CCG TTA ACT CTT GGG GAA GGN NN - #A AGC GGC TTT ACG GTT          1669                                                                        Leu Ser Gln Pro Leu Thr Leu Gly Glu Gly Xa - #a Ser Gly Phe Thr Val            125                 1 - #30                 1 - #35                 1 -       #40                                                                               - - CAT GAC GAC ACA GCA AAT AAG GAT ATT CCA GT - #G ACA TCT GTG AAG         GAT     1717                                                                     His Asp Asp Thr Ala Asn Lys Asp Ile Pro Va - #l Thr Ser Val Lys Asp                           145  - #               150  - #               155               - - GCA AGT CTT GGT CAA GAT GTA ACC GCT GTT TT - #G GCA GGT ACC TTC CAA          1765                                                                        Ala Ser Leu Gly Gln Asp Val Thr Ala Val Le - #u Ala Gly Thr Phe Gln                        160      - #           165      - #           170                   - - CAT ATT TTT GGA GGT TCC GAT TGG GCA CCT GA - #T AAT CAC AGT ACT TTA          1813                                                                        His Ile Phe Gly Gly Ser Asp Trp Ala Pro As - #p Asn His Ser Thr Leu                    175          - #       180          - #       185                       - - TTA AAA AAG GTG ACT AAC AAT CTC TAT CAA TT - #C TCA GGA GAT CTT CCT          1861                                                                        Leu Lys Lys Val Thr Asn Asn Leu Tyr Gln Ph - #e Ser Gly Asp Leu Pro                190              - #   195              - #   200                           - - GAA GGA AAC TAC CAA TAT AAA GTG GCT TTA AA - #T GAT AGC TGG AAT AAT          1909                                                                        Glu Gly Asn Tyr Gln Tyr Lys Val Ala Leu As - #n Asp Ser Trp Asn Asn            205                 2 - #10                 2 - #15                 2 -       #20                                                                               - - CCG AGT TAC CCA TCT GAC AAC ATT AAT TTA AC - #A GTC CCT GCC GGC         GGT     1957                                                                     Pro Ser Tyr Pro Ser Asp Asn Ile Asn Leu Th - #r Val Pro Ala Gly Gly                           225  - #               230  - #               235               - - GCA CAC GTC ACT TTT TCG TAT ATT CCG TCC AC - #T CAT GCA GTC TAT GAC          2005                                                                        Ala His Val Thr Phe Ser Tyr Ile Pro Ser Th - #r His Ala Val Tyr Asp                        240      - #           245      - #           250                   - - ACA ATT AAT AAT CCT AAT GCG GAT TTA CAA GT - #A GAA AGC GGG GTT AAA          2053                                                                        Thr Ile Asn Asn Pro Asn Ala Asp Leu Gln Va - #l Glu Ser Gly Val Lys                    255          - #       260          - #       265                       - - ACG GAT CTC GTG ACG GTT ACT CTA GGG GAA GA - #T CCA GAT GTG AGC CAT          2101                                                                        Thr Asp Leu Val Thr Val Thr Leu Gly Glu As - #p Pro Asp Val Ser His                270              - #   275              - #   280                           - - ACT CTG TCC ATT CAA ACA GAT GGC TAT CAG GC - #A AAG CAG GTG ATA CCT          2149                                                                        Thr Leu Ser Ile Gln Thr Asp Gly Tyr Gln Al - #a Lys Gln Val Ile Pro            285                 2 - #90                 2 - #95                 3 -       #00                                                                               - - CGT AAT GTG CTT AAT TCA TCA CAG TAC TAC TA - #T TCA GGA GAT GAT         CTT     2197                                                                     Arg Asn Val Leu Asn Ser Ser Gln Tyr Tyr Ty - #r Ser Gly Asp Asp Leu                           305  - #               310  - #               315               - - GGG AAT ACC TAT ACA CAG AAA GCA ACA ACC TT - #T AAA GTC TGG GCA CCA          2245                                                                        Gly Asn Thr Tyr Thr Gln Lys Ala Thr Thr Ph - #e Lys Val Trp Ala Pro                        320      - #           325      - #           330                   - - ACT TCT ACT CAA GTA AAT GTT CTT CTT TAT GA - #C AGT GCA ACG GGT TCT          2293                                                                        Thr Ser Thr Gln Val Asn Val Leu Leu Tyr As - #p Ser Ala Thr Gly Ser                    335          - #       340          - #       345                       - - GTA ACA AAA ATC GTA CCT ATG ACG GCA TCG GG - #C CAT GGT GTG TGG GAA          2341                                                                        Val Thr Lys Ile Val Pro Met Thr Ala Ser Gl - #y His Gly Val Trp Glu                350              - #   355              - #   360                           - - GCA ACG GTT AAT CAA AAC CTT GAA AAT TGG TA - #T TAC ATG TAT GAG GTA          2389                                                                        Ala Thr Val Asn Gln Asn Leu Glu Asn Trp Ty - #r Tyr Met Tyr Glu Val            365                 3 - #70                 3 - #75                 3 -       #80                                                                               - - ACA GGC CAA GGC TCT ACC CGA ACG GCT GTT GA - #T CCT TAT GCA ACT         GCG     2437                                                                     Thr Gly Gln Gly Ser Thr Arg Thr Ala Val As - #p Pro Tyr Ala Thr Ala                           385  - #               390  - #               395               - - ATT GCA CCA AAT GGA ACG AGA GGC ATG ATT GT - #G GAC CTG GCT AAA ACA          2485                                                                        Ile Ala Pro Asn Gly Thr Arg Gly Met Ile Va - #l Asp Leu Ala Lys Thr                        400      - #           405      - #           410                   - - GAT CCT GCT GGC TGG AAC AGT GAT AAA CAT AT - #T ACG CCA AAG AAT ATA          2533                                                                        Asp Pro Ala Gly Trp Asn Ser Asp Lys His Il - #e Thr Pro Lys Asn Ile                    415          - #       420          - #       425                       - - GAA GAT GAG GTC ATC TAT GAA ATG GAT GTC CG - #T GAC TTT TCC ATT GAC          2581                                                                        Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Tyr Glu Met Asp Val Ar - #g Asp Phe Ser Ile Asp                430              - #   435              - #   440                           - - CCT AAT TCG GGT ATG AAA AAT AAA GGG AAG TA - #T TTG GCT CTT ACA GAA          2629                                                                        Pro Asn Ser Gly Met Lys Asn Lys Gly Lys Ty - #r Leu Ala Leu Thr Glu            445                 4 - #50                 4 - #55                 4 -       #60                                                                               - - AAA GGA ACA AAG GGC CCT GAC AAC GTA AAG AC - #G GGG ATA GAT TCC         TTA     2677                                                                     Lys Gly Thr Lys Gly Pro Asp Asn Val Lys Th - #r Gly Ile Asp Ser Leu                           465  - #               470  - #               475               - - AAA CAA CTT GGG ATT ACT CAT GTT CAG CTT AT - #G CCT GTT TTC GCA TCT          2725                                                                        Lys Gln Leu Gly Ile Thr His Val Gln Leu Me - #t Pro Val Phe Ala Ser                        480      - #           485      - #           490                   - - AAC AGT GTC GAT GAA ACT GAT CCA ACC CAA GA - #T AAT TGG GGT TAT GAC          2773                                                                        Asn Ser Val Asp Glu Thr Asp Pro Thr Gln As - #p Asn Trp Gly Tyr Asp                    495          - #       500          - #       505                       - - CCT CGC AAC TAT GAT GTT CCT GAA GGG CAG TA - #T GCT ACA AAT GCG AAT          2821                                                                        Pro Arg Asn Tyr Asp Val Pro Glu Gly Gln Ty - #r Ala Thr Asn Ala Asn                510              - #   515              - #   520                           - - GGT AAT GCT CGT ATA AAA GAG TTT AAG GAA AT - #G GTT CTT TCA CTC CAT          2869                                                                        Gly Asn Ala Arg Ile Lys Glu Phe Lys Glu Me - #t Val Leu Ser Leu His            525                 5 - #30                 5 - #35                 5 -       #40                                                                               - - CGT GAA CAC ATT GGG GTT AAC ATG GAT GTT GT - #C TAT AAT CAT ACC         TTT     2917                                                                     Arg Glu His Ile Gly Val Asn Met Asp Val Va - #l Tyr Asn His Thr Phe                           545  - #               550  - #               555               - - GCC ACG CAA ATC TCT GAC TTC GAT AAA ATT GT - #A CCA GAA TAT TAT TAC          2965                                                                        Ala Thr Gln Ile Ser Asp Phe Asp Lys Ile Va - #l Pro Glu Tyr Tyr Tyr                        560      - #           565      - #           570                   - - CGT ACG ATG ATG CAG GTA ATT ATA CCA ACG GA - #T CAG GTA CTG GAA ATG          3013                                                                        Arg Thr Met Met Gln VaL Ile Ile Pro Thr As - #p Gln Val Leu Glu Met                    575          - #       580          - #       585                       - - AAA TTG CAN GCN GAA AGG CCA ATG GTT CAA AA - #A TTT ATT ATT GAT TCC          3061                                                                        Lys Leu Xaa Ala Glu Arg Pro Met Val Gln Ly - #s Phe Ile Ile Asp Ser                590              - #   595              - #   600                           - - CTT AAG TAT TGG GTC AAT GAG TAT CAT ATT GA - #C GGC TTC CGT TTT GAC          3109                                                                        Leu Lys Tyr Trp Val Asn Glu Tyr His Ile As - #p Gly Phe Arg Phe Asp            605                 6 - #10                 6 - #15                 6 -       #20                                                                               - - TTA ATG GCG CTG CTT GGA AAA GAC ACG ATG TC - #C AAA GCT GCC TCG         GAG     3157                                                                     Leu Met Ala Leu Leu Gly Lys Asp Thr Met Se - #r Lys Ala Ala Ser Glu                           625  - #               630  - #               635               - - CTT CAT GCT ATT AAT CCA GGA ATT GCA CTT TA - #C GGT GAG CCA TGG ACG          3205                                                                        Leu His Ala Ile Asn Pro Gly Ile Ala Leu Ty - #r Gly Glu Pro Trp Thr                        640      - #           645      - #           650                   - - GGT GGA ACC TCT GCA CTG CCA GAT GAT CAG CT - #T CTG ACA AAA GGA GCT          3253                                                                        Gly Gly Thr Ser Ala Leu Pro Asp Asp Gln Le - #u Leu Thr Lys Gly Ala                    655          - #       660          - #       665                       - - CAA AAA GGC ATG GGA GTA GCG GTG TTT AAT GA - #C AAT TTA CGA AAC GCG          3301                                                                        Gln Lys Gly Met Gly Val Ala Val Phe Asn As - #p Asn Leu Arg Asn Ala                670              - #   675              - #   680                           - - TTG GAC GGC AAT GTC TTT GAT TCT TCC GCT CA - #A GGT TTT GCG ACA GGT          3349                                                                        Leu Asp Gly Asn Val Phe Asp Ser Ser Ala Gl - #n Gly Phe Ala Thr Gly            685                 6 - #90                 6 - #95                 7 -       #00                                                                               - - GCA ACA GGC TTA ACT GAT GCA ATT AAG AAT GG - #C GTT GAG GGG AGT         ATT     3397                                                                     Ala Thr Gly Leu Thr Asp Ala Ile Lys Asn Gl - #y Val Glu Gly Ser Ile                           705  - #               710  - #               715               - - AAT GAC TTT ACC TCT TCA CCA GGT GAG ACA AT - #T AAC TAT GTC ACA AGT          3445                                                                        Asn Asp Phe Thr Ser Ser Pro Gly Glu Thr Il - #e Asn Tyr Val Thr Ser                        720      - #           725      - #           730                   - - CAT GAT AAC TAC ACC CTT TGG GAC AAA ATA GC - #C CTA AGC AAT CCT AAT          3493                                                                        His Asp Asn Tyr Thr Leu Trp Asp Lys Ile Al - #a Leu Ser Asn Pro Asn                    735          - #       740          - #       745                       - - GAT TCC GAA GCG GAT CGG ATT AAA ATG GAT GA - #A CTC GCA CAA GCA GTT          3541                                                                        Asp Ser Glu Ala Asp Arg Ile Lys Met Asp Gl - #u Leu Ala Gln Ala Val                750              - #   755              - #   760                           - - GTT ATG ACC TCA CAA GGC GTT CCA TTC ATG CA - #A GGC GGG GAA GAA ATG          3589                                                                        Val Met Thr Ser Gln Gly Val Pro Phe Met Gl - #n Gly Gly Glu Glu Met            765                 7 - #70                 7 - #75                 7 -       #80                                                                               - - CTT CGT ANA AAA GGC GGC AAC GAC AAT AGT TA - #T AAT GCA GGC GAT         GCG     3637                                                                     Leu Arg Xaa Lys Gly Gly Asn Asp Asn Ser Ty - #r Asn Ala Gly Asp Ala                           785  - #               790  - #               795               - - GTC AAT GAG TTT GAT TGG AGC AGG AAA GCT CA - #A TAT CCA GAT GTT TTC          3685                                                                        Val Asn Glu Phe Asp Trp Ser Arg Lys Ala Gl - #n Tyr Pro Asp Val Phe                        800      - #           805      - #           810                   - - AAC TAT TAT AGC GGG CTA ATC CAC CTT CGT CT - #T GAT CAC CCA GCC TTC          3733                                                                        Asn Tyr Tyr Ser Gly Leu Ile His Leu Arg Le - #u Asp His Pro Ala Phe                    815          - #       820          - #       825                       - - CGC ATG ACG ACA GCT AAT GAA ATC AAT AGC CA - #C CTC CAA TTC CTA AAT          3781                                                                        Arg Met Thr Thr Ala Asn Glu Ile Asn Ser Hi - #s Leu Gln Phe Leu Asn                830              - #   835              - #   840                           - - AGT CCA GAG AAC ACA GTG GCC TAT GAA TTA AC - #T GAT CAT GTT AAT AAA          3829                                                                        Ser Pro Glu Asn Thr Val Ala Tyr Glu Leu Th - #r Asp His Val Asn Lys            845                 8 - #50                 8 - #55                 8 -       #60                                                                               - - GAC AAA TGG GGA AAT ATC ATT GTT GTT TAT AA - #C CCA AAT AAA ACT         GTA     3877                                                                     Asp Lys Trp Gly Asn Ile Ile Val Val Tyr As - #n Pro Asn Lys Thr Val                           865  - #               870  - #               875               - - GCA ACC ATC AAT TTG CCG AGC GGG AAA TGG GC - #A ATC AAT GCT ACG AGC          3925                                                                        Ala Thr Ile Asn Leu Pro Ser Gly Lys Trp Al - #a Ile Asn Ala Thr Ser                        880      - #           885      - #           890                   - - GGT AAG GTA GGA GAA TCC ACC CTT GGT CAA GC - #A GAG GGA AGT GTC CAA          3973                                                                        Gly Lys Val Gly Glu Ser Thr Leu Gly Gln Al - #a Glu Gly Ser Val Gln                    895          - #       900          - #       905                       - - GTA CCA GGT ATA TCT ATG ATG ATC CTT CAT CA - #A GAG GTA AGC CCA GAC          4021                                                                        Val Pro Gly Ile Ser Met Met Ile Leu His Gl - #n Glu Val Ser Pro Asp                910              - #   915              - #   920                           - - CAC GGT AAA AAG TAATAGAAAA AAGTAAAATC CCCTCAAGAT GT - #TTGAGGGG              4073                                                                        His Gly Lys Lys                                                                925                                                                             - - GATTTAGTTA CTTATTATCC AATTAATTTG CGGCTTCGGT GTTTTCAATG GG -              #CTCCGTAT   4133                                                                  - - CCGTTCGGTT GTGTGATCGG ACAAATGGGA GTGAATAGGT CACAAGAGCA GC -             #AGCCATTT   4193                                                                  - - CAAGCAGACC AGCGAAAGTA AACATTCGTT CTGGTGCAAA TCGGGTCATC AA -             #CCAACCGG   4253                                                                  - - TAATTGCTTG GGAAATAGGG ATGGACCCTG ACATCACGAT AATCATAATA CT -             #AATAACAC   4313                                                                  - - GACCGAATAA CTTAGGTGGA ATAAGCGTAT GGTTAACGCT TGGAGCAATA AT -             #ATTAACCG   4373                                                                  - - CCGTTTCATG AGCGCCAACA AGCACTAGAA GGGCTAAAAT AACCCATAAG TT -             #GTGTGTAA   4433                                                                  - - ATCCTATAAA AAATAACATA AGGCCCTGCA G        - #                  - #             4464                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 2784 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: genomic DNA                                        - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                               - - GATGGGAACA CGACAACGAT CATTGTCCAC TATTTTTGCC CTGCTGGTGA TT -              #ATCAACCT     60                                                                  - - TGGAGTCTAT GGATGTGGCC AAAAGACGGA GGTGGGGCTG AATACGATTT CA -             #ATCAACCG    120                                                                  - - GCTGACTCTT TTGGAGCTGT TGCAAGTGCT GATATTCCAG GAAACCCAAG TC -             #AGGTAGGA    180                                                                  - - ATTATCGTTC GCACTCAAGA TTGGACCAAA GATGTGAGCG CTGACCGCTA CA -             #TAGATTTA    240                                                                  - - AGCAAAGGAA ATGAGGTGTG GCTTGTAGAA GGAAACAGCC AAATTTTTTA TA -             #ATGAAAAA    300                                                                  - - GATGCTGAGG ATGCAGCTAA ACCCGCTGTA AGCAACGCTT ATTTAGATGC TT -             #CAAACCAG    360                                                                  - - GTGCTGGTTA AACTTAGCCA GCCGTTAACT CTTGGGGAAG GNNNAAGCGG CT -             #TTACGGTT    420                                                                  - - CATGACGACA CAGCAAATAA GGATATTCCA GTGACATCTG TGAAGGATGC AA -             #GTCTTGGT    480                                                                  - - CAAGATGTAA CCGCTGTTTT GGCAGGTACC TTCCAACATA TTTTTGGAGG TT -             #CCGATTGG    540                                                                  - - GCACCTGATA ATCACAGTAC TTTATTAAAA AAGGTGACTA ACAATCTCTA TC -             #AATTCTCA    600                                                                  - - GGAGATCTTC CTGAAGGAAA CTACCAATAT AAAGTGGCTT TAAATGATAG CT -             #GGAATAAT    660                                                                  - - CCGAGTTACC CATCTGACAA CATTAATTTA ACAGTCCCTG CCGGCGGTGC AC -             #ACGTCACT    720                                                                  - - TTTTCGTATA TTCCGTCCAC TCATGCAGTC TATGACACAA TTAATAATCC TA -             #ATGCGGAT    780                                                                  - - TTACAAGTAG AAAGCGGGGT TAAAACGGAT CTCGTGACGG TTACTCTAGG GG -             #AAGATCCA    840                                                                  - - GATGTGAGCC ATACTCTGTC CATTCAAACA GATGGCTATC AGGCAAAGCA GG -             #TGATACCT    900                                                                  - - CGTAATGTGC TTAATTCATC ACAGTACTAC TATTCAGGAG ATGATCTTGG GA -             #ATACCTAT    960                                                                  - - ACACAGAAAG CAACAACCTT TAAAGTCTGG GCACCAACTT CTACTCAAGT AA -             #ATGTTCTT   1020                                                                  - - CTTTATGACA GTGCAACGGG TTCTGTAACA AAAATCGTAC CTATGACGGC AT -             #CGGGCCAT   1080                                                                  - - GGTGTGTGGG AAGCAACGGT TAATCAAAAC CTTGAAAATT GGTATTACAT GT -             #ATGAGGTA   1140                                                                  - - ACAGGCCAAG GCTCTACCCG AACGGCTGTT GATCCTTATG CAACTGCGAT TG -             #CACCAAAT   1200                                                                  - - GGAACGAGAG GCATGATTGT GGACCTGGCT AAAACAGATC CTGCTGGCTG GA -             #ACAGTGAT   1260                                                                  - - AAACATATTA CGCCAAAGAA TATAGAAGAT GAGGTCATCT ATGAAATGGA TG -             #TCCGTGAC   1320                                                                  - - TTTTCCATTG ACCCTAATTC GGGTATGAAA AATAAAGGGA AGTATTTGGC TC -             #TTACAGAA   1380                                                                  - - AAAGGAACAA AGGGCCCTGA CAACGTAAAG ACGGGGATAG ATTCCTTAAA AC -             #AACTTGGG   1440                                                                  - - ATTACTCATG TTCAGCTTAT GCCTGTTTTC GCATCTAACA GTGTCGATGA AA -             #CTGATCCA   1500                                                                  - - ACCCAAGATA ATTGGGGTTA TGACCCTCGC AACTATGATG TTCCTGAAGG GC -             #AGTATGCT   1560                                                                  - - ACAAATGCGA ATGGTAATGC TCGTATAAAA GAGTTTAAGG AAATGGTTCT TT -             #CACTCCAT   1620                                                                  - - CGTGAACACA TTGGGGTTAA CATGGATGTT GTCTATAATC ATACCTTTGC CA -             #CGCAAATC   1680                                                                  - - TCTGACTTCG ATAAAATTGT ACCAGAATAT TATTACCGTA CGATGATGCA GG -             #TAATTATA   1740                                                                  - - CCAACGGATC AGGTACTGGA AATGAAATTG CANGCNGAAA GGCCAATGGT TC -             #AAAAATTT   1800                                                                  - - ATTATTGATT CCCTTAAGTA TTGGGTCAAT GAGTATCATA TTGACGGCTT CC -             #GTTTTGAC   1860                                                                  - - TTAATGGCGC TGCTTGGAAA AGACACGATG TCCAAAGCTG CCTCGGAGCT TC -             #ATGCTATT   1920                                                                  - - AATCCAGGAA TTGCACTTTA CGGTGAGCCA TGGACGGGTG GAACCTCTGC AC -             #TGCCAGAT   1980                                                                  - - GATCAGCTTC TGACAAAAGG AGCTCAAAAA GGCATGGGAG TAGCGGTGTT TA -             #ATGACAAT   2040                                                                  - - TTACGAAACG CGTTGGACGG CAATGTCTTT GATTCTTCCG CTCAAGGTTT TG -             #CGACAGGT   2100                                                                  - - GCAACAGGCT TAACTGATGC AATTAAGAAT GGCGTTGAGG GGAGTATTAA TG -             #ACTTTACC   2160                                                                  - - TCTTCACCAG GTGAGACAAT TAACTATGTC ACAAGTCATG ATAACTACAC CC -             #TTTGGGAC   2220                                                                  - - AAAATAGCCC TAAGCAATCC TAATGATTCC GAAGCGGATC GGATTAAAAT GG -             #ATGAACTC   2280                                                                  - - GCACAAGCAG TTGTTATGAC CTCACAAGGC GTTCCATTCA TGCAAGGCGG GG -             #AAGAAATG   2340                                                                  - - CTTCGTANAA AAGGCGGCAA CGACAATAGT TATAATGCAG GCGATGCGGT CA -             #ATGAGTTT   2400                                                                  - - GATTGGAGCA GGAAAGCTCA ATATCCAGAT GTTTTCAACT ATTATAGCGG GC -             #TAATCCAC   2460                                                                  - - CTTCGTCTTG ATCACCCAGC CTTCCGCATG ACGACAGCTA ATGAAATCAA TA -             #GCCACCTC   2520                                                                  - - CAATTCCTAA ATAGTCCAGA GAACACAGTG GCCTATGAAT TAACTGATCA TG -             #TTAATAAA   2580                                                                  - - GACAAATGGG GAAATATCAT TGTTGTTTAT AACCCAAATA AAACTGTAGC AA -             #CCATCAAT   2640                                                                  - - TTGCCGAGCG GGAAATGGGC AATCAATGCT ACGAGCGGTA AGGTAGGAGA AT -             #CCACCCTT   2700                                                                  - - GGTCAAGCAG AGGGAAGTGT CCAAGTACCA GGTATATCTA TGATGATCCT TC -             #ATCAAGAG   2760                                                                  - - GTAAGCCCAG ACCACGGTAA AAAG          - #                  - #                   2784                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 928 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acids                                                          (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                               - - Asp Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr Ile Ile Val His Ty - #r Phe Cys Pro Ala Gly         1               5 - #                 10 - #                 15               - - Asp Tyr Gln Pro Trp Ser Leu Trp Met Trp Pr - #o Lys Asp Gly Gly Gly                    20     - #             25     - #             30                   - - Ala Glu Tyr Asp Phe Asn Gln Pro Ala Asp Se - #r Phe Gly Ala Val Ala                35         - #         40         - #         45                       - - Ser Ala Asp Ile Pro Gly Asn Pro Ser Gln Va - #l Gly Ile Ile Val Arg            50             - #     55             - #     60                           - - Thr Gln Asp Trp Thr Lys Asp Val Ser Ala As - #p Arg Tyr Ile Asp Leu        65                 - # 70                 - # 75                 - # 80        - - Ser Lys Gly Asn Glu Val Trp Leu Val Glu Gl - #y Asn Ser Gln Ile Phe                        85 - #                 90 - #                 95               - - Tyr Asn Glu Lys Asp Ala Glu Asp Ala Ala Ly - #s Pro Ala Val Ser Asn                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Ala Tyr Leu Asp Ala Ser Asn Gln Val Leu Va - #l Lys Leu Ser Gln Pro               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Leu Thr Leu Gly Glu Gly Xaa Ser Gly Phe Th - #r Val His Asp Asp Thr           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Ala Asn Lys Asp Ile Pro Val Thr Ser Val Ly - #s Asp Ala Ser Leu Gly       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gln Asp Val Thr Ala Val Leu Ala Gly Thr Ph - #e Gln His Ile Phe         Gly                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Gly Ser Asp Trp Ala Pro Asp Asn His Ser Th - #r Leu Leu Lys Lys Val                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Thr Asn Asn Leu Tyr Gln Phe Ser Gly Asp Le - #u Pro Glu Gly Asn Tyr               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Gln Tyr Lys Val Ala Leu Asn Asp Ser Trp As - #n Asn Pro Ser Tyr Pro           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Ser Asp Asn Ile Asn Leu Thr Val Pro Ala Gl - #y Gly Ala His Val Thr       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Phe Ser Tyr Ile Pro Ser Thr His Ala Val Ty - #r Asp Thr Ile Asn         Asn                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Pro Asn Ala Asp Leu Gln Val Glu Ser Gly Va - #l Lys Thr Asp Leu Val                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Thr Val Thr Leu Gly Glu Asp Pro Asp Val Se - #r His Thr Leu Ser Ile               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Gln Thr Asp Gly Tyr Gln Ala Lys Gln Val Il - #e Pro Arg Asn Val Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Asn Ser Ser Gln Tyr Tyr Tyr Ser Gly Asp As - #p Leu Gly Asn Thr Tyr       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Thr Gln Lys Ala Thr Thr Phe Lys Val Trp Al - #a Pro Thr Ser Thr         Gln                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Val Asn Val Leu Leu Tyr Asp Ser Ala Thr Gl - #y Ser Val Thr Lys Ile                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Val Pro Met Thr Ala Ser Gly His Gly Val Tr - #p Glu Ala Thr Val Asn               355          - #       360          - #       365                       - - Gln Asn Leu Glu Asn Trp Tyr Tyr Met Tyr Gl - #u Val Thr Gly Gln Gly           370              - #   375              - #   380                           - - Ser Thr Arg Thr Ala Val Asp Pro Tyr Ala Th - #r Ala Ile Ala Pro Asn       385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -       #00                                                                               - - Gly Thr Arg Gly Met Ile Val Asp Leu Ala Ly - #s Thr Asp Pro Ala         Gly                                                                                              405  - #               410  - #               415              - - Trp Asn Ser Asp Lys His Ile Thr Pro Lys As - #n Ile Glu Asp Glu Val                   420      - #           425      - #           430                   - - Ile Tyr Glu Met Asp Val Arg Asp Phe Ser Il - #e Asp Pro Asn Ser Gly               435          - #       440          - #       445                       - - Met Lys Asn Lys Gly Lys Tyr Leu Ala Leu Th - #r Glu Lys Gly Thr Lys           450              - #   455              - #   460                           - - Gly Pro Asp Asn Val Lys Thr Gly Ile Asp Se - #r Leu Lys Gln Leu Gly       465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -       #80                                                                               - - Ile Thr His Val Gln Leu Met Pro Val Phe Al - #a Ser Asn Ser Val         Asp                                                                                              485  - #               490  - #               495              - - Glu Thr Asp Pro Thr Gln Asp Asn Trp Gly Ty - #r Asp Pro Arg Asn Tyr                   500      - #           505      - #           510                   - - Asp Val Pro Glu Gly Gln Tyr Ala Thr Asn Al - #a Asn Gly Asn Ala Arg               515          - #       520          - #       525                       - - Ile Lys Glu Phe Lys Glu Met Val Leu Ser Le - #u His Arg Glu His Ile           530              - #   535              - #   540                           - - Gly Val Asn Met Asp Val Val Tyr Asn His Th - #r Phe Ala Thr Gln Ile       545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -       #60                                                                               - - Ser Asp Phe Asp Lys Ile Val Pro Glu Tyr Ty - #r Tyr Arg Thr Met         Met                                                                                              565  - #               570  - #               575              - - Gln Val Ile Ile Pro Thr Asp Gln Val Leu Gl - #u Met Lys Leu Xaa Ala                   580      - #           585      - #           590                   - - Glu Arg Pro Met Val Gln Lys Phe Ile Ile As - #p Ser Leu Lys Tyr Trp               595          - #       600          - #       605                       - - Val Asn Glu Tyr His Ile Asp Gly Phe Arg Ph - #e Asp Leu Met Ala Leu           610              - #   615              - #   620                           - - Leu Gly Lys Asp Thr Met Ser Lys Ala Ala Se - #r Glu Leu His Ala Ile       625                 6 - #30                 6 - #35                 6 -       #40                                                                               - - Asn Pro Gly Ile Ala Leu Tyr Gly Glu Pro Tr - #p Thr Gly Gly Thr         Ser                                                                                              645  - #               650  - #               655              - - Ala Leu Pro Asp Asp Gln Leu Leu Thr Lys Gl - #y Ala Gln Lys Gly Met                   660      - #           665      - #           670                   - - Gly Val Ala Val Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Arg As - #n Ala Leu Asp Gly Asn               675          - #       680          - #       685                       - - Val Phe Asp Ser Ser Ala Gln Gly Phe Ala Th - #r Gly Ala Thr Gly Leu           690              - #   695              - #   700                           - - Thr Asp Ala Ile Lys Asn Gly Val Glu Gly Se - #r Ile Asn Asp Phe Thr       705                 7 - #10                 7 - #15                 7 -       #20                                                                               - - Ser Ser Pro Gly Glu Thr Ile Asn Tyr Val Th - #r Ser His Asp Asn         Tyr                                                                                              725  - #               730  - #               735              - - Thr Leu Trp Asp Lys Ile Ala Leu Ser Asn Pr - #o Asn Asp Ser Glu Ala                   740      - #           745      - #           750                   - - Asp Arg Ile Lys Met Asp Glu Leu Ala Gln Al - #a Val Val Met Thr Ser               755          - #       760          - #       765                       - - Gln Gly Val Pro Phe Met Gln Gly Gly Glu Gl - #u Met Leu Arg Xaa Lys           770              - #   775              - #   780                           - - Gly Gly Asn Asp Asn Ser Tyr Asn Ala Gly As - #p Ala Val Asn Glu Phe       785                 7 - #90                 7 - #95                 8 -       #00                                                                               - - Asp Trp Ser Arg Lys Ala Gln Tyr Pro Asp Va - #l Phe Asn Tyr Tyr         Ser                                                                                              805  - #               810  - #               815              - - Gly Leu Ile His Leu Arg Leu Asp His Pro Al - #a Phe Arg Met Thr Thr                   820      - #           825      - #           830                   - - Ala Asn Glu Ile Asn Ser His Leu Gln Phe Le - #u Asn Ser Pro Glu Asn               835          - #       840          - #       845                       - - Thr Val Ala Tyr Glu Leu Thr Asp His Val As - #n Lys Asp Lys Trp Gly           850              - #   855              - #   860                           - - Asn Ile Ile Val Val Tyr Asn Pro Asn Lys Th - #r Val Ala Thr Ile Asn       865                 8 - #70                 8 - #75                 8 -       #80                                                                               - - Leu Pro Ser Gly Lys Trp Ala Ile Asn Ala Th - #r Ser Gly Lys Val         Gly                                                                                              885  - #               890  - #               895              - - Glu Ser Thr Leu Gly Gln Ala Glu Gly Ser Va - #l Gln Val Pro Gly Ile                   900      - #           905      - #           910                   - - Ser Met Met Ile Leu His Gln Glu Val Ser Pr - #o Asp His Gly Lys Lys               915          - #       920          - #       925                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 29 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                               - - Met Ala Lys Lys Leu Ile Tyr Val Cys Leu Se - #r Val Cys Leu Val Leu                       -25  - #               -20  - #               -15               - - Thr Trp Ala Phe Asn Val Lys Gly Gln Ser Al - #a His Ala                               -10      - #            -5      - #        -1                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 87 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid                                       - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                               - - ATG GCT AAA AAA CTA ATT TAT GTG TGT TTA AG - #T GTT TGT TTA GTG TTG           48                                                                         Met Ala Lys Lys Leu Ile Tyr Val Cys Leu Se - #r Val Cys Leu Val Leu                            -25  - #               -20  - #               -15               - - ACC TGG GCT TTT AAT GTA AAA GGG CAA TCT GC - #T CAT GCT                   - #    87                                                                      Thr Trp Ala Phe Asn Val Lys Gly Gln Ser Al - #a His Ala                                    -10      - #            -5      - #        -1                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1162 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid                                       - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                               - - GGATCCTGTT AGACTATTTG AGGAGTTTGC AACACTTGAT GTTTTATCCA AA -              #GGAAGGGC     60                                                                  - - CGGAGATCAT CGCTGGTCGA GGTGCTTTCG GTGAAGCATT TTCGCTATTT TG -             #GGTATAAC    120                                                                  - - CGGGCGCATT ACGATCAATT GTTTGAAGAG CATCTTGATT TACTTCAAAA GC -             #TGAATGCT    180                                                                  - - TCGAAAAGAA TAACATGGAG CGGGCTTTAT CGAACACCTA TACATGATGC AG -             #ATATCGCA    240                                                                  - - CCCCGCCCTG TTCAGAAAAA CATTCCTTTG TGGGTTGGGG TGGGTGGGAC NM -             #NTGAAASC    300                                                                  - - NSYKCKYYGT GCRNVSNNNT ATGGTGCCGG CTTAGCATGG GTATTTTGTC AG -             #GCGATTGG    360                                                                  - - CTTCGGTTTA AGGCACTTTC GGACCTTTAT CGGCAGGCCG GCCAACAAGC AN -             #GGTATTCA    420                                                                  - - CCGAACGATC TGAAAGTAGG AGTGACAGGG CATGCGTTTA TTGGAAAGAC GT -             #CGCAGCAG    480                                                                  - - GCACTCAATG ACTATTACCC CTATCACGCG AATTATTGGC TAACACTGAA CC -             #AACAATTA    540                                                                  - - GGGCAGCCGT TACCCCAGCA ATACGTGAGG GAATTTAATT TATTAGCCTC CC -             #CAGAGCAA    600                                                                  - - GCCTTATATG TGGGAAGCTC TCAACAAGTG GGCAGGNAAA AATTTTGCGC CA -             #ACATGAGG    660                                                                  - - NATTTGGTNA TAAACGTTTT ATCGCACAGA TCGACATTGG CGGAATGCCC TT -             #TAAAACAG    720                                                                  - - TGGCCAAGAA TATTGAGCGG TTAGGCCACT GAGGTTGCAC CTGTCGTACG AA -             #GAGCAACA    780                                                                  - - AGAGGGTAAT GGTAATAATC TATTTAACTG TTTATTAGAA AACTTGGTAT CT -             #GTTTAATT    840                                                                  - - AAATAACAGG AGCCTGGAAG TGGGCCAAGG CTCCTTTCTA GGGAAACCTT TT -             #TCTATTTA    900                                                                  - - TATAGGCGTT GTTGCCTAAG GCTAAAGTAG GATTTTATTA AAAATATAGG AA -             #TTGCTCTT    960                                                                  - - TTATTCGACA CAATTATTCA ATGGAATACG ATAAAATGGA GAGTGTATGT AA -             #GCGTTATA   1020                                                                  - - TTTTATTGGG GGGCTGATAG AAGAAAAGGG ATGCGACAGG GTCTATTAGC TA -             #GTTTGGTA   1080                                                                  - - TTCGATTTCA GATCAATGCA ACGTACGAGT TTTTTATTGA CTGCTTTGTG CA -             #AGCGATTG   1140                                                                  - - CATTGAAACA AAGGAGGACA TT           - #                  - #                    1162                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 431 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: nucleic acid                                       - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                               - - TAATAGAAAA AAGTAAAATC CCCTCAAGAT GTTTGAGGGG GATTTAGTTA CT -              #TATTATCC     60                                                                  - - AATTAATTTG CGGCTTCGGT GTTTTCAATG GGCTCCGTAT CCGTTCGGTT GT -             #GTGATCGG    120                                                                  - - ACAAATGGGA GTGAATAGGT CACAAGAGCA GCAGCCATTT CAAGCAGACC AG -             #CGAAAGTA    180                                                                  - - AACATTCGTT CTGGTGCAAA TCGGGTCATC AACCAACCGG TAATTGCTTG GG -             #AAATAGGG    240                                                                  - - ATGGACCCTG ACATCACGAT AATCATAATA CTAATAACAC GACCGAATAA CT -             #TAGGTGGA    300                                                                  - - ATAAGCGTAT GGTTAACGCT TGGAGCAATA ATATTAACCG CCGTTTCATG AG -             #CGCCAACA    360                                                                  - - AGCACTAGAA GGGCTAAAAT AACCCATAAG TTGTGTGTAA ATCCTATAAA AA -             #ATAACATA    420                                                                  - - AGGCCCTGCA G               - #                  - #                       - #      431                                                                 __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An enzymatic composition comprising a pullulanase produced by Bacillus deramificans, or by a derivative or a mutant strain thereof that retains all identifying characteristics of said species.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the B. deramificans has the followingN-terminal sequence: Asp Gly Asn Thr Thr Thr Ile Ile Val His Tyr Phe Cys Pro Ala Gly Asp Tyr Gln Pro.
 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pullulanase comprises the amino acid sequence illustrated in FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO:11) from amino acid 1 to 928 or a modified sequence derived therefrom, wherein said modified sequence catalyzes hydrolysis of α-1,6-glucosidic bonds.
 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the pullulanase is synthesized in the form of a precursor containing an additional sequence of 29 amino acids identified in SEQ ID NO:12.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the pullulanase is encoded by nucleic acid having the sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:10.
 6. The composition of claim 1 further comprising glucoamylase.
 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the glucoamylase is derived from an Aspergillus strain.
 8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the Aspergillus strain is selected from the group consisting of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori and Aspergillus foetidus.
 9. The composition of claim 6 comprising at least 60% pullulanase.
 10. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is in solid form.
 11. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is in liquid form.
 12. A process for the saccharification of starch, wherein said process allows for reduced concentrations of saccharification by-products, comprising the step of contacting aqueous liquefied starch with an enzyme composition comprising pullulanase produced by B. deramificans or by a derivative or a mutant strain thereof that retains all the identifying characteristics of said species or a B. deramificans pullulanase derivative or mutant thereof, wherein said pullulanase derivative or mutant is capable of hydrolyzing α-1,6-glucosidic bonds.
 13. The process of claim 12 further comprising the steps of heating said liquefied starch, and recovering products.
 14. The process of claim 12 wherein said enzyme composition further comprises glucoamylase.
 15. The process of claim 14 wherein said enzyme composition further comprises at least 60% pullulanase.
 16. The process of claim 12 wherein said starch comprises pullulane and amylopectin.
 17. The process of claim 12 wherein said contacting is at a pH of less than or equal to 7 and greater than or equal to
 3. 18. The process of claim 17 wherein said pH is in a range of about 3.8 to about 4.9.
 19. The process of claim 17 wherein said pH is about 4.3.
 20. The process of claim 13 wherein said heating is at a temperature range of between 55 and 65 degrees C.
 21. The process of claim 20, wherein said temperature is about 60 degrees C. 